Celtics won't give up despite hectic schedule

The Boston Celtics will be looking to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this National Basketball Association (NBA) season when they face the visiting Detroit Pistons on Dec 12 (Dec 13, Singapore time).

The Celtics have not played since they lost 127-121 to the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Dec 7.

They did overcome a 14-point second-half deficit to take a four-point lead in the fourth quarter but could not keep pace in the final minutes.

"Effort was good," Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said, reflecting on that game.

"You're down 14, take the lead. In the fourth quarter, I felt like we didn't really have a rhythm to the game, but we were able to take the lead. I thought we kind of just ran out of gas towards the end."

It was Boston's fifth game in seven nights, and the Celtics shot 18 of 60 from three-point territory.

"These are the games you've just gotta fight through it," Jaylen Brown said.