Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images On their way to a blowout, the Pistons dug deep and discovered some defensive intensity A spirited effort and a huge comeback was not enough as the Detroit Pistons fell to the Boston Celtics 124-118. The Pistons gave the defending champions everything they had in the second half, but it just wasn’t enough. But it was a fight, and early in the game, it didn’t look like that was even possible. Jayson Tatum’s 22nd point was a step-back 3-pointer to give the Boston Celtics a 23-point lead. The game was just 17 minutes old, and the score was already 67-44. It looked like it was going to be another long night for the Detroit Pistons. But the Pistons, playing their second game in two days and third in four days of a young season, decided they wanted to make the game a fight. They discovered some defense with some timely shot making, and were led by their two young guards in Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. The Pistons used that aggressive defense to not only get back in the game, but to take as much as a six-point lead into the fourth. But the Celtics know how to find open shots, and they know how to win. After a 5-minute scoring drought saw the Celtics facing a 112-106 deficit with 3:32 to go, Jrue Holiday hit consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game. From there, the Celtics simply out-executed the Pistons. They got to the free-throw line, found open driving lanes, and hit 3s. Detroit hit their own share of shots, including a nice putback by Jaden Ivey and a 3-pointer from Malik Beasley to make it a one-point game, but in the end, the Celtics prevailed. The Pistons were led by Ivey with 26 points, who has continued his aggressive drives and smooth shot-making. Cade Cunningham scored 21 points and had 10 assists, six rebounds and four blocks. He had moments of offensive brilliance — quick-hit 3s, patient turnaround jumpers, aggressive drives to the rim — with painful blunders — seven turnovers on a mix of a loose handle and ill-advised passes. There were plenty of positive to take from this game for Detroit — they know what they are capable of when they commit to playing lock-in, aggressive defense. They can find open looks with a spread floor, with Beasley and Simone Fontecchio hitting eight threes. But Tobias Harris had a dud of a game. He was 2-of-11 as he looked to be more aggressive in finding his own offense. Jalen Duren, meanwhile, was 7-of-7 from the floor, but again had a bad performance on defense. The Pistons need to figure out how to get something out of Duren defensively, if it’s in him. If it isn’t, they need to seriously think about moving to Isaiah Stewart as a starter. The Celtics just found too many open looks on the perimeter and at the rim as Duren struggled to track his man and seal off lanes. The Pistons will next play Monday on the road against the Miami Heat. Still looking for their first win.