Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics Live Blog: Instant Reactions and Analysis

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens would tell you his team's 113-103 triumph over the Pistons, which officially eliminated Detroit from contention while bolstering Boston's playoff position, was a concerted, egalitarian team effort.

But he would be lying.

From the moment sixth man Isaiah Thomas touched the floor with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter, this game was his. 

Thomas didn't care that the Celtics had lost six consecutive games at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and he most certainly didn't care about whoever Stan Van Gundy decided to throw at him on defense. 

Thomas torched the Pistons for a season-high 34 points on just 17 field goal attempts. The Celtics outscored the Pistons by an astonished 35 points during Thomas' 29 minutes on the court.

In other words, the Celtics' 5'9" midseason acquisition will be haunting the Pistons' dreams for some time now.

He splashed stepback threes. He bobbed and weaved and ducked between those two Detroit behemoths, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, and never failed to pop back up to nail any free shots he was rewarded with (10-11 FT). 

But early on, Detroit's titanic tandem looked poised to run roughshod all over Boston.

Drummond and Monroe scored 12 of Detroit's first 14 points, helping the somehow still in playoff contention Pistons jump out to an early 14-8 lead. 

Then Thomas came in, and the floodgates never quite stopped. 

Detroit made a few runs, notably narrowing the gap to just two with 5:12 left in the third quarter, but the Celtics' mercurial sixth man always had an answer. Sometimes two, and sometimes three, but regardless, he always seemed to spoil any smiles arising from the Pistons' faithful. 

With the win, Boston remains firmly in the No. 8 spot in the East, with a chance to move up should Atlanta defeat the Nets tonight. 

The Celtics remaining schedule is brutal (at CLE, CLE, TOR, at MIL), but with Thomas ascending into full-on superhero mode, Brad Stevens' gritty group has a legitimate shot at extending their season, even if it's just for a few more games. 

Notes

Monroe (19 PTS, 10 REB), Drummond (22 PTS, 14 REB) and Jackson (21 PTS, 15 AST) all had double-doubles for Detroit. 

The Celtics were an astounding 33-of-34 from the free throw line. That disparity was ultimately what killed the Pistons, who were just 6-of-10 from the line. 

Boston has now won five straight games on the road. This win snapped a six-game losing streak at Detroit.

Boston ended the first quarter with an 18-0 run and ended the third quarter with a 19-2 run.

The Celtics' bench outscored the Pistons bench', 73-31.