Tobias Harris scored 25 points as NBA Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons held on to beat the second-placed Boston Celtics 104-103 on Martin Luther King Jr Day.
Jaylen Brown, who registered 32 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, almost snatched victory when his shot in the final seconds bounced off the rim at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
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Jalen Duren contributed 18 points and nine rebounds and Cade Cunningham 16 points and 14 assists for the Pistons.
“We wanted this game. It’s a heck of a win for us,” said Harris.
“Two of the best teams in the East – our group is always up for the challenge.”
The Pistons improved their record to 31-10, while the Celtics are 26-16.
Western Conference leaders and defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder got back to winning ways with a 136-104 victory at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Thunder went into the game on the back of a defeat by the Miami Heat and dominated the Cavaliers as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points.
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Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs, who are second in the Western Conference, to a 123-110 home win against the Utah Jazz.
Wembanyama scored a season-high seven three-pointers in a display which also included 10 rebounds, while six other Spurs players reached double figures in points.
