Coach JB Bickerstaff used the previous two days as a mini training camp at the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center. The Detroit Pistons had four days without games due to the ongoing quarterfinals of the in-season tournament.

Although he wished the Pistons were still competing for the NBA Cup, their early exit gave them a chance to right the misfortunes that had plagued him of their season during the first 25 games.

The Pistons’ first chance to test Bickerstaff’s teachings came Thursday night at TD Garden against the Boston Celtics. The extra days off proved irrelevant as Detroit lost 123-99. The Pistons lost their 12th straight game to the Celtics and are now 10-16 overall.

Cade Cunningham finished the game with 18 points (9 of 22 FG), eight assists and eight rebounds. He did everything he could to keep the undermanned Pistons afloat, but his efforts weren’t enough against the defending champions. Jalen Duren missed the game with a sprained right wrist.

Rookie Ron Holland seemed to be the only player trying to match Cunningham’s performance. He played 20 minutes off the bench and scored a career-high 26 points on 11 of 14 shooting. Marcus Sasser gave Detroit a little boost with nine points. However, Bickerstaff didn’t bring the second-year guard into the game until midway through the third quarter.