Milwaukee Bucks' Jevon Carter, left, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder's Luguentz Dort defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 31 points and five assists, and the Boston Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 128-112 on Wednesday night to earn their fourth straight victory.

Jaylen Brown had 30 points and seven rebounds. Sam Hauser added a career-high 24 points off the bench for Boston, which hasn’t scored fewer than 109 points in each of its wins this season.

“Little by little I’m earning more trust from (Celtics interim coach) Joe (Mazzulla),” Hauser said. “I’ve still got to keep doing things to earn minutes out there and earning a spot in the rotation.”

After scoring just five points during a quiet first half, Tatum had 16 points in the first five minutes in the third quarter on his way to 26 in the second half to help the Celtics take control.

He also got his teammates involved, at one point flipping a behind-the-back pass to Al Horford for a corner 3-pointer as Boston built as much as a 16-point advantage in the period. The Celtics led by 24 in the fourth.

Mazzulla was proudest of how his team played defensively, limiting Detroit to 42% from the field (37 of 89) and 21% (7 of 33) from 3.

“When your best players want to play defense, it gives you a chance,” Mazzulla said.

Jaden Ivey had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who have lost four of five. Saddiq Bey added 18 points and Bojan Bogdanovic finished with 17.

Cade Cunningham was 1 of 11 from the field and finished with a season low four points. It was the first time this season he’s failed to reach double figures. He was averaging a team-best 21.4 points per game.

“They were into him and didn’t allow him to get to his sweet spot,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “Did a good job of switching onto him, challenging his shot — just making it tough on him. It was just one of those nights that you have. He couldn’t buy a bucket.”

TIP-INS

Pistons: Casey left open the possibility Alec Burks (left knee) could make his season debut against the Knicks on Friday. … Wednesday began a stretch that will see Detroit play 8 of its next 10 on the road.

Celtics: Malcolm Brogdon left the game with right hamstring tightness and did not play in the second half. … Marcus Smart had 11 assists. He has 33 in the past three games. … C Luke Kornet was active after missing Boston’s win at Memphis on Monday following the birth of his second child. … Wednesday marked the two-year anniversary of Hall of Famer Tommy Heinsohn’s passing.

EARLY ACTION

The Celtics entered the night with the NBA’s top offensive rating and came out firing, hitting 4 of their first 6 shots as they sprinted out to a 10-2 lead.

Detroit had open looks early on but missed its first six shots on its way to shooting 7 of 30 (2 of 12 from the 3-point line) in the opening quarter.

The Pistons stayed close thanks to the Celtics squandering some opportunities with turnovers. .

Boston found a rhythm in the second quarter, shooting 70% (14 of 20) and 4 of 8 from beyond the arc to take a 63-49 lead into the half.

UP NEXT

Pistons: At New York Knicks on Friday.

Celtics: Host Denver Nuggets on Friday.

Carter scores career-high 36

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jevon Carter had career highs of 36 points and 12 assists, and the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 136-132 in two overtimes on Wednesday night.

The Bucks were missing their top two scorers. Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with a sore left knee and Jrue Holiday was out with a sprained right ankle. Carter filled the scoring void by making 15 of 27 field goals, including 5 of 10 3-pointers.

Brook Lopez added 24 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks for the Bucks, who were coming off their first loss of the season after winning their first nine games.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points, Tre Mann had 21 and Josh Giddey added 18 points, 15 rebounds and six assists for the Thunder, who lost their fourth straight.

The Thunder led by six late in the third quarter before George Hill hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to trim Oklahoma City’s edge to 87-84.

Milwaukee led 112-100 with just under five minutes remaining before the Thunder rallied. Lu Dort made an open layup off an inbounds pass under the hoop to tie the game at 119. Carter missed a fadeaway at the buzzer to force overtime.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s step-back 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left in the first overtime gave the Oklahoma City Thunder a 126-125 lead in overtime. Dort fouled Lopez on an inbounds lob with 0.2 seconds remaining. Lopez missed the first free throw and made the second to force a second OT.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Carter entered the game averaging 5.3 points and hadn’t scored more than 18 in a game this season. … Former Thunder player Serge Ibaka scored four points. … Lopez had four blocks in the first half.

Thunder: Milwaukee’s Grayson Allen landed hard on Gilgeous-Alexander’s knee in the first quarter, but neither player was hurt. … F Aleksej Pokusevski had 17 points and nine rebounds.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Visit the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.

Thunder: Host the Toronto Raptors on Friday.