Pistons erase 22-point deficit and spoil George’s 38-point Celtics debut

Javonte Green and Duncan Robinson helped Detroit score 23 straight fourth-quarter points as the Pistons erased a 22-point deficit and beat Boston 121-113 on Tuesday. Paul George scored 38 points in his Celtics debut, but Detroit's late shooting surge decided the NBA season opener at Little Caesars Arena.

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren each finished with 22 points. Cunningham added eight assists, Duren had nine rebounds, and Robinson scored 21 with five three-pointers. Green supplied 19 points and five threes after sitting out the first half. Ausar Thompson contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Boston appeared to be pulling away early in the third quarter. George made three threes in less than a minute, and the Celtics built a 72-50 lead with 8:32 remaining in the period. Detroit recovered enough to trail 88-82 entering the fourth, but Boston restored a 99-89 advantage on Derrick White's three with 8:19 to play.

The Celtics did not score again until 3:18 remained. In between, Robinson made consecutive threes and three free throws, Green hit the go-ahead three, and Duren completed a three-point play. Another Robinson triple, a Cunningham jumper and Green's fifth three pushed Detroit's lead to 112-99 at 3:33.

That sequence changed both the score and Boston's task. A team that had been protecting a double-digit lead now needed a fast comeback against a Detroit group finding open shots. White finally ended the drought, and George's seventh three brought Boston within 114-110 with 1:06 remaining. Thompson answered with a short jumper with 41 seconds left, and the Pistons held on through the final free throws.

George made 12 of 21 shots, including seven of 12 from three-point range. His 38 points were the most by a player in his Celtics debut, according to Boston's game report. The performance came in his first regular-season appearance for the team following the trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia.

Jayson Tatum had 13 points and 11 assists but made six of 23 shots and missed all seven of his three-point attempts. White and Payton Pritchard scored 17 points apiece. Boston made 17 threes as a team, two more than Detroit, but could not keep the Pistons from taking control during the fourth quarter.

Free throws also separated the teams. Detroit made 28 of 32, compared with Boston's 16 of 21. The Pistons scored 76 second-half points after entering halftime down 58-45, with Green and Robinson providing 37 of those points between them.

Both teams next play Friday. Detroit travels to Miami, while Boston returns home to face the defending champion Knicks.