Tatum’s 38 points help Celtics roll past Pistons 127-109

BOSTON (AP) —The Celtics got back their offensive and defensive spark plugs.Together, they gave Boston the jolt it needed to head into theAll-Star break on track to accomplish all its goals thisseason.

Jayson Tatumscored 38 points, including 24 in the third quarter, and theCeltics rolled to a 127-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons onWednesday night.

MalcolmBrogdon had 25 points off the bench, and Al Horford added 11 pointsand seven rebounds for Boston. Derrick White finished with 11points and six assists.

Reigning NBADefensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart contributed nine points,seven rebounds, six assists and six steals in his first game backafter missing nine with a sprained right ankle.

“We missed alot,” Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla said of Smart’s absence.“We missed his joy. He brought a level of joy into the game.”

The EasternConference-leading Celtics (42-17) enter the break with five winsin their last six games. They have a one-game lead oversecond-place Milwaukee, which has won 11 straight and plays itsfinal game before All-Star Weekend on Thursday at Chicago.

Tatum said helikes the way Boston is trending as it rests before trying tocomplete a run back to the NBA Finals in the second half.

“All thingsconsidered, everything that we’ve went through this season as ateam with coaching changes and guys getting injured, missing gamesand being in and out of the lineup. ... Overall, it’s been a hellof a start,” Tatum said.

Detroittrimmed a 19-point deficit to five late in the third quarter. ButTatum scored 24 points in the period to give the Celtics aneight-point cushion entering the fourth. Boston then got its leadback up to 19 with 4:29 to play.

BojanBogdanovic led the Pistons with 28 points and five rebounds. IsaiahStewart added 14 points. Detroit has lost five of six.

The Celtics’lead in the East was cut to a half-game after they lost in overtimeTuesday at Milwaukee while playing without Tatum (illness), JaylenBrown (facial fracture), Smart and Horford (right kneeswelling).

Wednesdaybrought the return of Smart, Tatum and Horford. White also playeddespite dealing with a hole in his right eardrum from a hit he tookagainst the Bucks.

The extrapersonnel helped the Celtics jump out to an 18-point lead in thefirst half, overwhelming a Pistons team that turned the ball overnine times in the opening 24 minutes. Four of those came off stealsby Smart.

Third-yearbig man James Wiseman finally debuted for the Pistons following thefour-team trade that sent him from Golden State to Detroit. Thedeal was initially held up by the part that sent Gary Payton IIfrom Portland to the Warriors after concerns arose surroundingPayton’s health following offseason surgery.

Wisemanchecked in for the first time at the 3:29 mark of the firstquarter, playing alongside Killian Hayes, Alec Burks, Isaiah Liversand Bogdanovic.

Wisemanfinished with 11 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes.

TIP-INS

Pistons:Outscored the Celtics 38-31 in the third quarter. … Finished with14 turnovers, leading to 15 points for Boston.

Celtics:Robert Williams (left ankle soreness), Jaylen Brown (facialfracture), Mike Muscala (right ankle management) and MfiondaKabengele (personal reasons) all sat out. ... Boston went 21 of 45from behind the 3-point line (47%). … Led 66-51 at halftime.