Pistons Push Celtics Around in Physical Battle, But Jaylen Brown Isn’t Backing Down
BOSTON - Monday night at TD Garden felt like a flashback - not to the 1980s, exactly, but the Detroit Pistons certainly brought some of that old-school edge with them. And while no one’s officially calling them the “Bad Boys” again, they’re not shying away from playing with that same bruising, unapologetic identity.
The Boston Celtics felt it firsthand in a 112-105 loss, and Jaylen Brown found himself right in the middle of it. Midway through the third quarter, tensions flared between Brown and Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart - a player who’s earned his “Beef Stew” nickname with a physical, no-nonsense style.
The two exchanged words, got tangled up, and both picked up technicals. But after the dust settled, Brown took the high road.
Jaylen Brown stare down a throat slash celebration.
— Savage (@SavageSports_) December 5, 2024
OK. 👀🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/BtcGVDMUWg
“We were just having fun,” Brown said with a grin that didn’t exactly scream sincerity. “I think Stewart is a nice guy.”
Jaylen Brown exchanges words with JB Bickerstaff and Isaiah Stewart and has to be held back.
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) December 16, 2025
Then Chris Boucher had to be brought back to Boston’s bench. pic.twitter.com/9tUJSeDpwE
That “nice guy” has a bit of history with Brown. Last season, Brown dunked on Stewart and followed it up with some taunting that earned him a $25,000 fine. So maybe this time around, Brown chose his words carefully - whether to avoid another fine or to keep the focus on the game.
Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff made it clear before tipoff: his team doesn’t fake toughness. “Our guys are genuine,” he said.
Cade Cunningham in the clutch —
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 16, 2025
So smooth. 🥶
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“They don't - well, sometimes they start sh*t, but they don't back down when it gets going. It's the heart of our team.”
That identity was on full display. When Stewart mixed it up with Brown, the Celtics didn’t just let it slide - several players moved toward the Pistons’ bench, clearly ready to stand up for their guy. It was chippy, it was intense, and it was the kind of game that felt like it meant more than one regular-season win or loss.
Detroit’s physicality was strategic. They tried to rattle Brown, but it didn’t work. The four-time All-Star responded with a game-high 34 points on 52% shooting, attacking the rim with purpose and refusing to let the moment throw him off.
“I’m all for it,” Brown said afterward, embracing the physical challenge.
Stewart, for his part, didn’t light up the box score - seven points, one block - but his impact was felt in the margins. He grabbed five offensive rebounds in just 22 minutes, nearly matching Boston’s total as a team.
His energy helped Detroit dominate the bench battle, outscoring the Celtics 47-14 in that department and winning second-chance points 16-8. That kind of hustle often doesn’t make headlines, but it wins games.
Boston, for all its firepower, couldn’t quite overcome those gaps. Still, they had a shot late.
With just under 90 seconds to go, Derrick White buried a pull-up three to cut the Pistons’ lead to three. But Cade Cunningham answered right back with a tough, contested fadeaway to push it back to five - a dagger that Boston never recovered from.
Afterward, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla wasn’t discouraged by the loss. If anything, he saw growth in how his team responded to the Pistons’ physicality.
“I thought we answered the call,” Mazzulla said. “They’re one of the bigger, more physical teams in the league… I liked our mental toughness. I liked our physical toughness throughout the game.”
Boston now sits at 15-11 on the season, including a 1-2 mark against Detroit. They’ve gone 7-3 in their last 10 games, but this one stung. Brown wasn’t making excuses - he pointed the finger at himself.
“I got to be better down the stretch,” he said. “Definitely a game that got away from us, that got away from me. So we’ll watch the film and be ready for the next one.”
Next up: the Miami Heat. Another team that doesn’t shy away from physical play, and another chance for the Celtics to prove they can win the gritty ones.
Brown and the Celtics have shown they won’t back down. Now it’s about executing better when it matters most.