NBA: Detroit overturn Boston despite Paul George's 38 points
Trailing by 22 points, the Pistons beat Boston 121–113 to open the NBA season. Javonte Green and Duncan Robinson drove Detroit's comeback, despite a record-setting debut from Paul George.
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Trailing by 22 points in the third quarter, the Detroit Pistons beat the Boston Celtics 121–113 on Tuesday, 20 October, at Little Caesars Arena. It was a spectacular comeback, built around Javonte Green and Duncan Robinson, and it spoiled Paul George's historic debut in a Boston shirt.
Boston looked to have taken control of the opening game of the 2026–2027 regular season. The Celtics had stretched the lead before the break, then stepped up a gear after the interval. But Detroit steadily chipped away at the deficit before turning the game around with a run of 23 unanswered points in the final quarter.
The final score and the course of the game are available on the SNA match page.
Boston pull away, George impresses
After an even first quarter, which Boston led by one point, the Celtics imposed their rhythm in the second period. Their defence held Detroit to 18 points and their attack sent them into the dressing room ahead at 58–45.
Paul George kept up his display after the break. His long-range shooting pushed Boston's lead out to 72–50. In his first official appearance for the Celtics, the forward finished with 38 points, five rebounds, three assists and five steals, shooting 12 of 21 from the field, including seven three-pointers from twelve attempts. No player had scored as many points on his debut for the franchise.
Even so, the performance was not enough to keep Detroit at bay.
Javonte Green changes the momentum
Having stayed on the bench throughout the first half, Javonte Green became one of the main drivers of the Pistons' comeback. His shooting from outside gave Detroit a new attacking option and helped cut the gap to 88–82 going into the final quarter.
Green ended up with 19 points in under 18 minutes, hitting five three-pointers from eight attempts. His contribution transformed a rotation that had looked outplayed in the first half.
Duncan Robinson also played a decisive part. He finished with 21 points, including five three-pointers from nine tries, and punished the openings Boston left him.
A 23–0 run swings the game
The Celtics nevertheless restored a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter, at 96–84. They still had a big enough cushion to regain control.
That was when their attack stalled. Detroit strung together stops and baskets, with Green, Robinson and Jalen Duren among the key figures in the turnaround. The 23–0 run propelled the Pistons in front and let them build a lead of as many as 13 points.
Boston then came back to within four, but a basket from Ausar Thompson in the final minute removed the threat. Detroit held on to their advantage to the end.
Tatum struggles, Detroit stronger on the boards
Alongside George, Jayson Tatum finished with 13 points and 11 assists, but his shooting deserted him: six makes from 23 attempts, and none from seven three-point tries. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard added 17 points each.
Detroit got more balanced production: Cade Cunningham racked up 22 points and eight assists, while Jalen Duren contributed 22 points and nine rebounds. Ausar Thompson rounded off the team effort with 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
The Pistons also dominated the glass, 49–39, and made 28 of 32 free throws, against 16 of 21 for Boston. Those extra points more than offset the two additional three-pointers the Celtics made.
Score by quarter
- Detroit: 27, 18, 37 and 39 points — total: 121.
- Boston: 28, 30, 30 and 25 points — total: 113.
Detroit thus begin their season with a win earned after taking some punishment. Boston, despite George's exceptional shooting, leave with a defeat and a first problem to solve: holding their structure and composure when the opposition gathers momentum.