DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons erased a 22-point deficit Tuesday to beat the Boston Celtics 121-113, pulling off the largest comeback on the first day of an NBA season in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98).
The rally also marked Detroit’s largest come-from-behind win against Boston in the past 30 seasons.
The Pistons fell behind by 22 points in front of their home crowd midway through the third quarter, after a 3-pointer from Paul George. That moment flipped the intensity level for Detroit.
“The opponent doesn’t matter. What people say doesn’t matter,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “The only thing that matters is if we play Pistons basketball. I thought tonight we found enough stretches where we did, and when we played Pistons basketball, we’re hard to beat. That’s the only thing that matters.”
Detroit used a 23-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull ahead during a rare Tuesday afternoon tipoff. The Pistons trailed 99-89 with 8:19 left, then led 112-99 with 3:33 remaining. That run tied their largest in a game over the past 10 seasons.
Robinson, Cunningham and Duren lead the way
Veteran sharpshooter Duncan Robinson went off in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his 21 points and knocking down three 3-pointers. All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham, who did not speak to reporters after the game, scored eight of his 22 points in the fourth and finished with eight assists.
All-NBA center Jalen Duren, fresh off signing a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed contract, recorded 22 points and nine rebounds.
Duren said the comeback “just embodied the culture and what we’re trying to build here.”
“We’re a team that’s known to be gritty, known to get it out the mud, known to never quit, and that’s our identity,” Duren said. “Even the guys who are new here are embodying that. And that’s why we were able to have the outcome that we had.”
Celtics control the first half
Boston led 58-45 at halftime after Detroit fell behind by as many as 15 in the opening half.
George, making his Celtics debut, had a game-high 38 points. Jayson Tatum added 13 points and 11 assists on 6-for-23 shooting. Pistons forward Ausar Thompson took on the challenge of guarding Tatum.
“Coach gives me the toughest matchup every night. I don’t want them to score,” said Thompson, who had 11 points and five assists. “I just try to do what I can to help the team win on that end and it’s a tough matchup.”
Opening-day festivities
As part of the opening festivities, the Pistons hosted a special blue carpet arrival outside Little Caesars Arena. Duren participated and said he wasn’t nervous to face the fans after a four-month contract standoff that spanned the summer and the start of training camp.
“I wasn’t nervous. I know the true fans know how much I love them and know how much I care about this city,” Duren said. “Obviously, business is business, but I was excited to be back in this jersey and put on for the fans.”
Cunningham also delivered a pregame message to set the stage. He grabbed the microphone at center court after introductions and shared the Pistons’ “big plans this year” as they look to do something “special in this city.”
“All my teammates, the entire Pistons organization wants to say thank you for all the love and support,” Cunningham told the fans. “This team, we come from all over the place but we’re grateful to be able to call Detroit home now.”
Cunningham said the team has put in the work all offseason and believes in each other as a group coming off a 60-win season.
“The NBA wanted to start the league off in Detroit this season. Let’s start it off right. Let’s get to work,” Cunningham said.