Javonte Green exploded for 19 points after not even touching the court in the first half, completely flipping the script as the Detroit Pistons rallied to beat the Boston Celtics 121-113 in the NBA season opener. This one was wild, folks. The league picked this matchup to tip off the season, and it delivered pure entertainment, especially for anyone who loves an underdog comeback.
Paul George’s Dazzling Debut Got Absolutely Spoiled
Talk about a gut punch. Paul George put on a show in his Celtics debut, dropping an incredible 38 points. That’s the most anyone has scored in their first game as a Celtic, and you could feel the hype building around the nine-time All-Star, even in his 17th season. Boston brought him in from Philadelphia, swapping him for 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, and he certainly looked the part early on. The Celtics even took their biggest lead, 72-50, early in the third quarter after George drained three 3-pointers in less than a minute. For a moment, it felt like his night, his team’s night, but the Pistons had other plans.
Detroit’s Unlikely Charge and Tatum’s Rough Opener
While George was cooking, the Pistons were mounting a comeback built on sheer will and some incredible performances. Cade Cunningham led the charge, finishing with 22 points and eight assists, just showing why he’s the real deal. Jalen Duren was a beast in the paint, adding 22 points and nine rebounds, and Duncan Robinson chipped in 21 points, hitting five of nine from beyond the arc. Ausar Thompson rounded out their dominant effort with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
But the real story for Detroit has to be Green’s second-half explosion. To go from zero minutes to 19 points in a comeback like that? That’s the kind of spark that can change a game, and it did. The Pistons cut the deficit to just six points by the end of the third quarter and then absolutely surged in the fourth. Green hit a go-ahead 3-pointer, Duren followed with a three-point play, and Robinson sunk another 3, pushing the Pistons ahead 107-99 with only 5:10 left.
On the other side, it was a rough night for Jayson Tatum. He missed 17 of 23 shots, ending with just 13 points and 11 assists. The source even called out his “lack of hustle” on defense, a lapse that allowed Green to casually hit that fifth 3-pointer for a 13-point lead for Detroit late in the game. Tatum, a six-time All-Star, is playing his first full season since tearing his Achilles tendon back in May 2025, and this opener clearly wasn’t what he or Celtics fans wanted to see. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard each scored 17 points for Boston, but it wasn’t enough to withstand Detroit’s surge.
Next up, the Celtics get to host the New York Knicks on Friday, while the Pistons head to Miami to take on the Heat. Boston will be desperate to shake off this opener, and how Tatum responds to this kind of performance is going to be a huge storyline to watch.
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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