Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons
· National Basketball Association
NBA season tips off with Pistons rallying to beat Celtics 121-113, spoiling Paul George's debut
The NBA picked the matinee matchup to tip off the season and it delivered plenty of entertainment.
Paul George scored 38 points, the most by a Celtic in his debut. The nine-time All-Star, in his 17th season, showed he's still got it in his first game with Boston since it acquired him from Philadelphia in exchange for 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
Jayson Tatum, though, was off his game.
He missed 17 of 23 shots had 13 points and 11 assists. His lack of hustle on defense allowed Green to take his time for a fifth 3-pointer that gave the Pistons a 13-point lead with 3:33 left.
Tatum, a six-time All-Star, is set to play his first full season since tearing his Achilles tendon in May 2025.
Boston took its biggest lead early in the third quarter at 72-50 after George made three 3-pointers in less than a minute.
Detroit cut its deficit to six points after three quarters and surged ahead in the fourth. Green made a go-ahead 3, Duren added a three-point play and Robinson connected on a 3 to put the Pistons ahead 107-99 with 5:10 to go.
Jalen Duren had 22 points and nine rebounds, Duncan Robinson scored 21 points — making 5 of 9 3-pointers — and Ausar Thompson added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons.
Boston's Derrick White and Payton Pritchard scored 17 points apiece.
Pistons: At Miami on Friday.
See AP’s full NBA coverage here
Regular Season Series
DET leads series 1-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 113 - 121 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 113 - 121 |
| 4th 0.6 |  |
Cade Cunningham makes free throw 2 of 2 | 113 - 121 |
| 4th 0.6 | |
Cade Cunningham makes free throw 1 of 2 | 113 - 120 |
| 4th 0.6 |  |
Paul George personal take foul | 113 - 119 |
Statistics
 BOS |
 DET |
|
|---|---|---|
| 40-88 | FG | 39-86 |
| 45 | Field Goal % | 45 |
| 17-42 | 3PT | 15-40 |
| 40 | Three Point % | 38 |
| 16-21 | FT | 28-32 |
| 76 | Free Throw % | 88 |
| 39 | Rebounds | 49 |
| 12 | Offensive Rebounds | 14 |
| 27 | Defensive Rebounds | 35 |
| 28 | Assists | 27 |
| 10 | Steals | 7 |
| 5 | Blocks | 5 |
| 14 | Turnovers | 17 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 14 | Total Turnovers | 17 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 17 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 21 |
| 11 | Fast Break Points | 14 |
| 34 | Points in Paint | 44 |
| 26 | Fouls | 22 |
| 22 | Largest Lead | 13 |
| 16 | Lead Changes | 16 |
| 59 | Percent Led | 32 |
Detroit Pistons Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Taurean Prince, F | Out | Oct 20 |
Boston Celtics Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Devin Carter, G | Out | Oct 18 |
Game Information
Location: Detroit, MI
Attendance: 20,178 · Capacity:
2026-27 Atlantic Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Philadelphia |
1 | 0 | 1.000 | - | W1 |
 Brooklyn |
0 | 0 | .000 | 0.5 | - |
 Toronto |
0 | 0 | .000 | 0.5 | - |
 New York |
0 | 1 | .000 | 1 | L1 |
 Boston |
0 | 1 | .000 | 1 | L1 |
Chicago
Cleveland
Indiana
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