The Celtics led the Pistons by a commanding 22 points in the second half of their season opener. Then, in a brutal echo of last year’s first round, they completely fell apart, losing to Detroit 121-113. Talk about a gut punch to kick off the season.
A Lead Gone Wrong, Familiar Feelings
This wasn’t just a loss; it was a meltdown. After battling through a slow start that saw them turn the ball over on their first three possessions, the Celtics finally found their rhythm, even getting an and-1 layup from Jayson Tatum for their first basket of the season. Tatum even hit a buzzer beater to snag a 28-27 lead at the end of the first quarter, playing the entire quarter with 7 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. Things really looked up in the second, as they ripped off a 15-0 run to take a 50-39 lead and eventually went into halftime up 58-45.
But then the wheels came off. Jayson Tatum struggled big time, finishing with just 13 points on a brutal 6/23 from the field. And that sloppy offense from the first quarter, which racked up 6 turnovers, seemed to creep back in. Coach Joe Mazzulla, who constantly preaches about shot margins, probably isn’t sleeping well after seeing the Pistons win the turnover and rebounding battles early in the game. On the other side, Cade Cunningham absolutely ate, racking up 22 points and 8 assists to seal the win for Detroit. This kind of collapse, especially after a huge lead, is a tough way to start the year, and it brings back some painful memories.
George Shines, Others Contribute
Even with the crushing loss, there was a major bright spot: Paul George. He came out absolutely blazing in his Celtics debut, dropping 17 points by halftime to lead the team in scoring. George wasn’t done, pouring in another 11 points in the first four minutes of the third quarter! By midway through that quarter, he had hit 31 points, which is officially the most points for any player in a Celtics debut. Dude also moved past Kyle Korver into 8th place on the NBA’s all-time 3-point makes list with his 2,451st career bomb. That’s a serious milestone!
Other guys showed flashes too. Jordan Walsh made an early impact with 4 rebounds, including 2 offensive boards, in just the first six minutes of the game. Payton Pritchard chipped in 6 points off the bench. The coaching staff clearly experimented, even running a double big lineup with Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta for the final minute of the first half. They played 11 different guys in the first 15 minutes, with a clear plan to limit Robinson and George’s minutes this season. The team did have Devin Carter out with mononucleosis and Tauren Prince was the only one out for Detroit.
So, what now? This was the season opener, a chance to set the tone, and instead, it feels like they stepped right into a familiar trap. George’s monster debut is an awesome sign for the talent on this roster, but a 22-point collapse, especially one that echoes past struggles, means there’s a lot for the Celtics to figure out right away. You gotta wonder how Mazzulla addresses *that* kind of second-half implosion.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
Leave a Reply