Pistons Rally for Record Opening-Day Comeback

The Detroit Pistons opened the NBA season with a 121-113 win over the visiting Boston Celtics, erasing a 22-point second-half deficit. The rally was the largest opening-day comeback in the play-by-play era, dating to 1997-98. Duncan Robinson scored 21 points, 15 in the fourth. Javonte Green added 19. Ausar Thompson had 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Paul George scored 38 in his Celtics debut, a franchise debut scoring record. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White scored 17 each. Jayson Tatum shot 6-for-23 for 13 points with 11 assists. Detroit led 39-35 early before Boston's 15-0 run. George hit three three-pointers in 52 seconds in the third to make it 72-50. Green then helped contain George while scoring as Detroit cut the deficit. Statistician Keerthika Uthayakumar wrote on X that the blown 22-point lead was Boston's largest since Feb. 28, 2025, versus Cleveland, and that the Celtics were 38-0 when leading by 20-plus last season, including playoffs. Guardian and mezha.net credit Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham with 22 points each and a 23-0 fourth-quarter run; Clutch Points lists both at 19, and one account cites a 20-0 run that built a 10-point lead. Boston next hosts the New York Knicks; Detroit visits Miami on Friday.