Detroit Rallies From 22 Down to Beat Boston in NBA Opener
A 23–0 run in the fourth quarter wipes out Paul George's 38 points, the most by a Celtic in his debut
Boston led by 22 points early in the third quarter and by 10 with 8:19 to play. Detroit then scored 23 straight points and won 121–113 at Little Caesars Arena.
Paul George scored 38 points in his first game for Boston, the most by a Celtic in a debut. He made 12 of 21 shots, including seven 3-pointers.
Javonte Green, who did not play in the first half, scored 19 points with five 3-pointers. Duncan Robinson scored 21, 15 of them in the fourth quarter, and also made five 3-pointers. Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham each scored 22.
Jayson Tatum, in his first game of what is set to be his first full season since tearing his right Achilles tendon, scored 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting.
Detroit outscored Boston 39–25 in the fourth quarter and made 28 of 32 free throws in the game.
The Detroit Pistons came back from 22 points down and beat the Boston Celtics 121–113 in the first game of the NBA season, spoiling a 38-point debut by Paul George.
The crowd at Little Caesars Arena was 20,178.
Boston led 58–45 at halftime. George made three 3-pointers in less than a minute early in the third quarter, and Boston went ahead 72–50. Detroit outscored Boston 37–30 in the quarter but still trailed 88–82 going into the fourth.
Boston led 99–89 with 8:19 left. Detroit then scored 23 straight points and went ahead 112–99 with 3:33 to play.
Javonte Green, who did not play in the first half, scored 19 points in 18 minutes on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. Duncan Robinson scored 21 points, made five of nine 3-pointers and scored 15 of his points in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Duren had 22 points and nine rebounds, and Cade Cunningham had 22 points and eight assists. Ausar Thompson had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
"When we outwork you, we're going to be hard to beat," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
George, in his 17th season and first with Boston since the Celtics acquired him from Philadelphia for Jaylen Brown, scored the most points by a Celtic in his debut. He made 12 of 21 shots, seven of 12 3-pointers and seven of eight free throws, and had five steals.
Jayson Tatum, set to play his first full season since tearing his right Achilles tendon in May 2025, went 6 of 23 from the field and 0 of 7 on 3-pointers. He finished with 13 points and 11 assists. Derrick White scored 17 points with eight assists.
Detroit made 28 of 32 free throws; Boston made 16 of 21. Detroit outrebounded Boston 49–39 and outscored it 44–34 in the paint. Boston made 17 3-pointers to Detroit's 15. The lead changed hands 16 times.
Boston hosts the New York Knicks and Detroit plays at Miami on October 23.