Pistons score 23 straight and come back from 22 down to beat the Celtics 121-113

The Boston Celtics led by 10 with 8:19 left in the fourth quarter. They did not score again for five minutes. The Detroit Pistons scored the next 23 points, turned a 99-89 deficit into a 112-99 lead, and beat Boston 121-113 on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena in the first game of the NBA season.

It finished a comeback from 22 points down. Boston led 72-50 with 8:32 left in the third quarter after Paul George hit three threes in 52 seconds. George finished with 38 points.

Detroit won the second half 76-55. Duncan Robinson scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and Javonte Green scored all 19 of his after halftime, off the bench.

Boston's half

The first quarter ended with Boston ahead 28-27 on a pull-up by Jayson Tatum with 0.3 seconds left. Detroit led 39-35 midway through the second after a three by Daniss Jenkins.

Then Boston scored 15 straight. Sam Hauser finished it with a tip-in and a 26-foot three, and Tatum scored twice in the run. George closed the half with two threes and two free throws in 51 seconds, and Boston led 58-45 at the break. He had 17 points at halftime.

George's three threes

George scored Boston's first basket of the third quarter, a pull-up. After a Jalen Duren three-point play cut it to 63-50, George hit from 23 feet at 9:24, from 26 feet at 8:57 and from 26 feet again at 8:32. Derrick White assisted all three. It was 72-50.

Detroit answered with threes. Cade Cunningham hit one from 26 feet, Robinson one from 27. Then Green, who had not scored in the first half, made two free throws and three threes in 2:03. The last of them, at 3:06, cut it to 81-75.

Boston still led 88-82 after three quarters, on a three by Baylor Scheierman with 1.2 seconds left. George had 31 points.

The run

The Celtics stretched the lead back to 96-84 early in the fourth, and White's 28-footer made it 99-89 with 8:19 to play. That was Boston's last basket for more than five minutes.

Here is how Detroit scored the next 23:

• Robinson hit a 25-foot three, then a 26-foot three. Boston called timeout at 99-95.
• Robinson was fouled on a three and made all three free throws. It was 99-98 with 7:07 left.
• Green hit a 23-foot running three for Detroit's first lead of the second half, 101-99.
• Duren scored on a running layup and made the free throw.
• Robinson hit another three from 26 feet. 107-99.
• Cunningham made a step-back jumper, and Green hit from 28 feet with 3:33 left. 112-99.

Robinson scored 12 of the 23. White finally ended the run with a floater at 3:18.

The finish

Boston got within four twice. George's 26-foot three made it 114-110 with 1:06 left, and Payton Pritchard hit from 25 feet to make it 117-113 with 7.5 seconds to go. In between, Ausar Thompson scored on a pull-up from a Cunningham pass, and Robinson made one of two free throws. Green and Cunningham each made two free throws to finish it.

The numbers

George made 12 of 21 shots, 7 of 12 threes and 7 of 8 free throws, with five steals in 31 minutes. Tatum had 11 assists but shot 6 of 23 and missed all seven of his threes. White scored 17 with eight assists, and Pritchard scored 17 off the bench.

Cunningham and Duren scored 22 each for Detroit. Cunningham had eight assists and five turnovers, and Duren had nine rebounds. Thompson had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Green made 5 of 8 threes and was plus-21 in 18 minutes.

Detroit made 28 of 32 free throws to Boston's 16 of 21. The Pistons out-rebounded the Celtics 49-39 and outscored them 44-34 in the paint. Boston made more threes, 17 to 15, and committed fewer turnovers, 14 to 17.

The crowd was 20,178.

Last season, Detroit finished first in the East at 60-22 and Boston second at 56-26.

Scoring

Detroit: Cade Cunningham 22, Jalen Duren 22, Duncan Robinson 21, Javonte Green 19, Ausar Thompson 11, Isaiah Joe 8, John Collins 6, Paul Reed 6, Kevin Huerter 3, Daniss Jenkins 3, Ronald Holland II 0.

Boston: Paul George 38, Derrick White 17, Payton Pritchard 17, Jayson Tatum 13, Sam Hauser 11, Baylor Scheierman 8, Mitchell Robinson 4, Neemias Queta 3, Luka Garza 2, Jordan Walsh 0, Hugo González 0.

By quarter: Detroit 27, 18, 37, 39. Boston 28, 30, 30, 25.

What is next

The Celtics host the New York Knicks at TD Garden on Friday, October 23, at 7 p.m. ET. The Pistons play the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center the same night at 8 p.m. ET.

Before the game, we looked at the three opening-night matchups. Later on Tuesday, the 76ers spoiled the Knicks' banner night.

Update: Tatum scored 36 as the Celtics held off the Knicks 107-103 in their home opener.

Update: Detroit went to 3-0 by beating the 76ers 106-93.