The Detroit Pistons overcame an early deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics 119-113 on Sunday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 25 points and eight assists, while Jalen Duren added 24 points and 17 rebounds. The victory improved the Pistons’ record to 2-1, while Boston fell to 0-3.
Jaylen Brown scored 41 points for the Celtics, who opened the game on a 14-2 run and led by as many as 17 in the first half. Despite the hot start, Boston couldn’t sustain its momentum as Detroit controlled the middle quarters, outscoring the visitors 70-48 across the second and third periods.
Ausar Thompson contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Pistons, including key second-chance baskets down the stretch. Detroit dominated the offensive glass, producing 30 second-chance points that proved decisive in the closing minutes.
Boston trimmed a 13-point deficit to four with 1:13 left after Brown hit two free throws, but Tobias Harris responded with a crucial putback on the next possession. Harris finished with 18 points and eight rebounds as Detroit placed four players in double figures.
The Celtics showed defensive improvement after giving up 42 points in a quarter in each of their first two games. However, they continued to struggle in rebounding battles, getting outrebounded 55-38 and allowing Duren to control the paint on both ends.
Payton Pritchard added 21 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, while Derrick White scored 15. Anfernee Simons chipped in 12 off the bench. The Celtics’ supporting cast shot just 33 percent from three-point range, and the team committed 12 turnovers that led to 18 Detroit points.
With Tatum sidelined and former contributors Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford no longer on the roster, Boston continues to search for stability under its new lineup. The team has now dropped three straight games to open the season, two of them on the road.
Detroit, meanwhile, has built momentum with back-to-back wins following a season-opening loss in Chicago. The Pistons will host Cleveland on Monday, while the Celtics continue their road trip against the Pelicans in New Orleans.
