Man, talk about an opener! The Pistons kicked off their season opener Tuesday against the Celtics down a whopping 22 points, and it looked bleak. Seriously, the Celtics were draining threes from everywhere, and Cade Cunningham wasn’t finding his rhythm at the basket. But then, the Pistons dropped a 23-0 run in the fourth quarter, capped by a Javonte Green three, to absolutely flip the script and win 121-113. If you didn’t see it, you gotta believe it, because that comeback was unreal.
The “Never Quit” Comeback That Shook the East
That 22-point deficit vanished into thin air at Little Caesars Arena, turning what looked like a rough start into a stirring triumph that had the crowd roaring like it was May. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff is always looking for that next guy to step up, and the team’s “old-look strengths” really flexed. Jalen Duren, back on the court after a long contract negotiation in the offseason, looked right at home, dropping 22 points and grabbing nine boards. He put it perfectly, saying, “Yeah, that’s what makes us a team. I think the comeback just embodied the culture and what we’re trying to build here. We’re a team known to be gritty, known to get into the mud, known to never quit, and that’s our identity. Even the guys who are new here are embodying that.” What a statement to kick off the season. This 22-point comeback was the largest in an NBA opener in at least 28 years. That’s not just a win, that’s a *statement*.
Ausar Thompson’s Lockdown on Tatum Was Pure Menace
While the league was all focused on its one-name stars in the national TV showcase, the Pistons made their own noise, especially on defense. The Celtics rolled in as one of the favorites to take the top spot in the East, bringing Paul George and a fully healthy Jayson Tatum. But Tatum? He ran straight into a Pistons defensive menace. The guy was held to a paltry 13 points on 6-for-23 shooting, going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc. How did that even happen? Coach Bickerstaff didn’t mince words: “Ausar Thompson. That simple. You get him in one-on-one situations, you’re gonna be in for a long night, no matter who you are.” And Thompson wasn’t just defense, he added 11 points, 11 rebounds, and even sealed the game with a clutch short jumper as the shot clock expired, with just 41 seconds left on the clock. That’s a complete player right there.
The Eastern Conference is looking absolutely stacked this season. The Pistons have their work cut out for them if they want to grab another high seed. You’ve got the Knicks, the Celtics, and the Sixers, who now boast LeBron James and Jaylen Brown alongside Joel Embiid. Plus, Cleveland, Toronto, Miami, and Indiana are all looking fortified. This first game didn’t “send messages” in the typical sense, but it definitely showed the Pistons are ready to get into the mud and fight for every win. It’s gonna be a wild ride in the East, and this comeback is just a taste of what’s to come.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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