Pistons Stun Celtics with 22-Point Comeback in Season Opener

Key points

• Detroit trailed 72-50 with 8:32 left in the third quarter but outscored Boston 23-0 in a five-minute stretch to take a 112-99 lead with 3:33 remaining.
• Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren each scored 22 points, while Duncan Robinson added 21 points, including five three-pointers, to secure the win.
• Paul George scored 38 points in his Celtics debut, surpassing Kristaps Porzingis’s 2023 record of 30 points for the most points in a Celtics season opener.
• Javonte Green, who did not play in the first half, scored 19 points in the second half, including five three-pointers, to help ignite the comeback.
• Jayson Tatum struggled offensively, scoring just 13 points on 6-for-23 shooting, including 0-for-7 from three-point range, though he recorded 11 assists.

Background

This game was part of a new three-game opening day slate on NBC, though the early Pistons-Celtics matchup faced distribution issues with local affiliates preempting the broadcast. The result marks the largest opening-day comeback in NBA play-by-play history since 1997-98. It follows a previous season where the Pistons forced a Game 7 against the Orlando Magic after overcoming a 24-point deficit in the first round.

Why it matters

The victory establishes Detroit as a serious contender in the Eastern Conference, demonstrating resilience and depth. It also highlights the immediate impact of Paul George’s trade to Boston, setting a franchise scoring record despite the loss, and raises questions about Jayson Tatum’s offensive adjustment in his new system.

What to watch

Both teams will continue their regular season schedules, with Boston looking to balance George’s scoring with Tatum’s playmaking and Detroit aiming to maintain their defensive intensity and shooting efficiency.