Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff credited his team’s defense, resilience and collective effort after Detroit erased a 22-point deficit to beat the Boston Celtics 121-113 in its season opener on Tuesday.
The Pistons trailed 72-50 early in the third quarter but rallied to secure the win at Little Caesars Arena. Bickerstaff said the turnaround began with the team’s defensive intensity.
“We started defending, and then offensively, we had some guys make some shots, but the movement was there,” Bickerstaff said. “We were sharing the ball at a high level, finding our guys who were hot.”
He emphasized the effort plays that helped change the game’s momentum.
“It always starts with our defense. You saw guys diving on the floor, coming up with loose balls,” Bickerstaff said. “When we outwork you, we’re going to be hard to beat.”
The comeback reflected what Bickerstaff considers a defining characteristic of his team: its refusal to give up when facing adversity.
“These guys are relentless. They never say die,” he said. “As long as there’s time on the clock, they believe they can win.”
Bickerstaff also highlighted the connection between his players, saying they become more united rather than breaking apart when games become difficult.
“In those moments, you could very easily fracture and everybody could try to go do their own thing,” he said. “But when we find ourselves in those moments, our guys come together even more. And that’s what makes us such a hard out.”
Javonte Green provided a major spark after not playing in the first half, scoring 19 points and making five three-pointers. Bickerstaff praised the forward’s readiness despite his uncertain playing time.
“He could have sat over there and been pissed off because he doesn’t play in the first half, but that’s not the makeup of this group. That’s not his character,” Bickerstaff said.
The coach added that Detroit’s depth allows him to trust different players depending on what the team needs on a given night. He also credited Green and Duncan Robinson with catching fire during the comeback.
“When you’re in those moments, somebody’s got to catch a spark,” Bickerstaff said. “I thought Duncan and Woo did a great job of catching that spark for us.”
Bickerstaff also praised Ausar Thompson’s defensive work against Jayson Tatum, who finished with 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting.
“Ausar Thompson. That simple,” Bickerstaff said when asked how Detroit made Tatum’s night more difficult. “You get him in one-on-one situations, you’re gonna be in for a long night no matter who you are.”
Detroit will look to carry its opening-night momentum into Friday’s road game against the Miami Heat.
