J.B. Bickerstaff Had Simple Answer When Asked How Pistons Stopped Celtics' Jayson Tatum originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Pistons found a way to slow down Jayson Tatum in their season-opening win over the Boston Celtics, and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had a straightforward explanation for how they did it.
Ausar Thompson.
Bickerstaff credited the young forward's individual defense on Tatum after Detroit rallied from a 22-point deficit to beat Boston 121-113 on Tuesday. Thompson's ability to handle difficult one-on-one matchups helped the Pistons make life difficult for the Celtics star.
In a postgame interview, Bickerstaff made it clear that Thompson was central to the defensive game plan.
JB Bickerstaff on what the Pistons did to make things difficult for Jayson Tatum: "Ausar Thompson. That simple. You get him in 1 on 1 situations you gonna be in for a long night no matter who you are" https://t.co/xm66NsbH7x
— Oh No He Didn't 🤯 (@ohnohedidnt24) October 20, 2026
Tatum finished with 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting, missing all seven of his attempts from beyond the arc. He added 11 assists and four rebounds but struggled to find his scoring rhythm against Detroit's defense.
Thompson, meanwhile, finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists as the Pistons completed their comeback.
Thompson's defensive performance was one part of a larger effort from Detroit, which refused to let a double-digit deficit dictate the outcome.
The Pistons trailed by as many as 22 points before turning the game around, including a decisive 23-0 run that put them in control. Detroit's resilience helped the team open the season with a statement victory against one of the Eastern Conference's top teams.
The Pistons' collective effort ultimately proved enough to overcome Boston's early advantage, with Thompson's work against Tatum helping set the tone.