Celtics
Pistons erase halftime hole with 39-point fourth to beat Celtics 121-113
The Detroit Pistons beat the Boston Celtics 121-113 at Little Caesars Arena after trailing 58-45 at halftime. Detroit won the second half by scoring 37 in the third quarter and 39 in the fourth, and it won the glass 59-45. The Pistons open 1-0 and sit first in the East, while Boston starts 0-1.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 1 h ago01The story of the nightThe turning pointBoston controlled the first half.
Boston controlled the first half. The Celtics scored 30 in the second quarter and held Detroit to 18, which put them up 58-45 at the break. Boston's biggest lead reached 22. The game turned in the third quarter. Detroit outscored Boston 37-30 and cut the gap to 88-82 after three. Then the Pistons took over the fourth, scoring 39 points to Boston's 25. The lead changed hands 16 times, but Detroit had the last word. The Pistons' biggest lead was 13, and the Celtics never found a way back once Detroit's offense got going late.
02Top performersPaul George was the best player on the floor.
Paul George was the best player on the floor. He scored 38 points on 12-of-21 shooting, made 7 of 12 threes, added five steals and finished plus-9. Detroit answered with depth. Cade Cunningham had 22 points and eight assists, though he also committed five turnovers. Jalen Duren scored 22 on 8-of-13 shooting with nine rebounds. Duncan Robinson added 21 points and made 5 of 9 threes. Javonte Green gave Detroit 19 points off the bench on 5-of-8 from deep and was plus-21 in under 18 minutes, the best mark in the game.
03Where it was wonDetroit won it inside and at the line.
Detroit won it inside and at the line. The Pistons outrebounded Boston 59-45 and outscored the Celtics 44-34 in the paint. They went 28 of 32 from the free-throw line, against 16 of 21 for Boston. Detroit also won fast-break points 17-11. Boston kept pace in other areas. The Celtics made 17 threes to Detroit's 15, scored 21 points off turnovers to Detroit's 17 and won the bench battle 41-39. Detroit turned it over 17 times to Boston's 14. The rebounding and free-throw gaps were too much for Boston to overcome.
04Boston's shooting problemOutside of George, Boston struggled to score efficiently.
Outside of George, Boston struggled to score efficiently. Jayson Tatum shot 6 of 23 from the field and missed all seven of his threes. He still found teammates, posting 11 assists, but finished with 13 points and a minus-5. Derrick White chipped in 17 points and eight assists. Payton Pritchard scored 17 off the bench, seven of them at the foul line. Sam Hauser hit 3 of 5 threes for 11 points. The Celtics shot 45.5 percent overall, nearly even with Detroit's 45.3 percent. The difference came on the boards and at the line.
05What it meansDetroit starts the season 1-0 and sits first in the East.
Detroit starts the season 1-0 and sits first in the East. The win showed it can rally from a big deficit, and its bench gave real minutes, led by Green and Paul Reed, who was plus-12. Ausar Thompson filled the box score with 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Boston opens 0-1 and fourth in the East. George's 38 points were not enough. The Celtics need more from Tatum and a better effort on the glass to close out games they lead at halftime.
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