Celtics vs Pistons Final Score: Pistons 121, Celtics 113 in Collapse

The Boston Celtics lost their 2026-27 season opener to the Detroit Pistons 121-113 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, blowing a 22-point second-half lead. Paul George scored 38 points in the most points in a Celtics debut in franchise history, but Detroit closed the game with a stunning fourth-quarter run to win the first game of the NBA season.



[

Paul George broke the Celtics debut record that stood as a clear positive on a bad night


Paul George finished with 38 points on 12-for-21 shooting, including 7-for-12 from three-point range, with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals in 31 minutes for the Boston Celtics. That total broke the previous Celtics debut record of 30 points set by Kristaps Porzingis against the New York Knicks on October 25, 2023.


George had 17 points at halftime and 31 points midway through the third quarter for the Celtics. In the first half, George also moved past Kyle Korver into eighth place on the NBA all-time three-point makes list with the 2,451st three-pointer of his career, per Celtics Stats.


[


How did the Celtics lose a 22-point lead to the Pistons in the fourth quarter?


The Boston Celtics led the Detroit Pistons 58-45 at halftime and pushed the lead to 22 points in the second half. Boston still led 88-82 after three quarters and 96-84 early in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena.


Detroit then flipped the game completely. Duncan Robinson hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead, and the Detroit Pistons followed with an 18-0 run that became a 23-0 run, turning a Boston lead into a 13-point Detroit advantage. A Derrick White layup finally ended the 23-0 run, but Boston could only close to within four points in the final two minutes before an Ausar Thompson jumper steadied Detroit.


MORE: Celtics: Paul George Celtics Debut Erupts for 17 First-Half Points





Jayson Tatum struggled while Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren led Detroit back


Jayson Tatum scored 13 points on 6-for-23 shooting for the Boston Celtics, with 10 assists in the loss, and he was held scoreless in the third quarter. Tatum missed a layup and threw a pass into the second row on back-to-back possessions as the Detroit Pistons took control in the second half.


Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons with 22 points and 8 assists, and Jalen Duren also scored 22 points for Detroit. Former Celtic Javonte Green scored 19 points, including 19 points in the second half off the bench, and Duncan Robinson scored 21 points for the Pistons.





What is next for the Celtics after the season opener loss in Detroit?


The Boston Celtics start the season 0-1 after the Celtics vs Pistons final score went against them, while the Detroit Pistons start 1-0. Boston's starting lineup was Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson, in the first game for Boston without Jaylen Brown on the roster since the trade that brought George from Philadelphia.


The Celtics home opener is Friday at 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video against the defending champion New York Knicks. That game will test whether Boston can protect a lead and get a more efficient scoring night from Jayson Tatum next to Paul George.


Frequently asked questions about the Celtics opener


What was the Celtics vs Pistons final score?

The Detroit Pistons beat the Boston Celtics 121-113 on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.


How many points did Paul George score in his Celtics debut?

Paul George scored 38 points for the Boston Celtics, the most points in a Celtics debut in franchise history, passing Kristaps Porzingis and his 30 points in 2023.


When is the Celtics home opener?

The Boston Celtics play their home opener on Friday at 7 p.m. ET against the New York Knicks on Prime Video.


More Celtics

- Latest Celtics news

- Celtics: Paul George Celtics Debut Erupts for 17 First-Half Points

- Celtics: Jayson Tatum Achilles Return Clears Mental Hurdle


Sources:

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba/boston-celtics/news/most-points-celtics-debut-paul-george-record/89fabff3a2ed75b3c216b6f1

https://www.celticsblog.com/celtics-scores-results/148125/boston-celtics-collapse-lose-season-opener-to-detriot-pistons-121-113-jayson-tatum-paul-george-joe-mazzulla-cade-cunningham

https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/3630152/pistons-storm-back-for-stunning-season-opening-win-over-celtics

Location: Boston, MA, USA

Latest News

Loading latest stories…

Popular posts from this blog

Bruins Chase Fifth Straight Win Tonight Against Winless Kings

Image
The Boston Bruins are red hot, and they get another late night in Los Angeles tonight with a chance to make it five straight wins. The Bruins (6-2-0) visit the Los Angeles Kings (0-3-2) at Crypto.com Arena with puck drop set for 9 p.m. ET on NESN. Boston is riding a four-game winning streak after Friday night's 4-2 comeback over the Anaheim Ducks, where the Bruins trailed 2-0 before scoring four unanswered goals. Tonight is the third stop on a four-game road trip, and the Bruins have won both games so far on the trip. Swayman Returns to the Crease Jeremy Swayman is expected to start in net after Michael DiPietro earned his first NHL win on Friday in Anaheim, per NHL.com. Swayman has been excellent to open the season, going 5-1-0 with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Offensively, Boston keeps rolling through captain David Pastrnak. His third goal of the season Friday gave him 423 for his career, passing Brad Marchand for fourth on the Bruins' all-time goa...
Read more

Bruins Lineup Changes vs Stars: Zacha, Zadorov Return Tonight

Image
The Boston Bruins will have Pavel Zacha and Nikita Zadorov back in the lineup on Tuesday night, October 20, when Boston closes its four-game road trip against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Head coach Marco Sturm confirmed both returns on Tuesday, and Jeremy Swayman will start in net as the 7-2-0 Bruins chase a sixth straight win. What are the Bruins lineup changes vs Stars? The Bruins lineup changes vs Stars start at the top of the forward group. Pavel Zacha returns to the lineup after sitting out Saturday's game in Los Angeles with an upper-body injury, and Zacha was a full participant in the morning skate in Dallas. Zacha centered the first line between JJ Peterka and David Pastrnak at the skate, restoring Boston's top line for the Dallas game. Zacha said he was feeling back to 100 percent and called the absence a quick turnaround. Sean Kuraly will sit out as a healthy scratch with Zacha back, per reports from Dallas. The Bruins starting l...
Read more

Patriots vs Bears Injury Report: Five Patriots Sit Out Monday

Image
The New England Patriots listed five players as non-participants on their estimated Monday injury report ahead of Thursday night's game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Offensive linemen Ben Brown and Alijah Vera-Tucker were among the five sidelined, while right tackle Morgan Moses was limited and quarterback Drake Maye was a full participant. The Patriots and Bears both enter the Week 7 game at 4-2. Who sat out for the Patriots on Monday? The Patriots did not practice on Monday, so the Patriots vs Bears injury report is an estimate of who would have taken part. New England listed kicker Andy Borregales (personal), center Ben Brown (knee), cornerback Carlton Davis III (neck), defensive tackle Joshua Farmer (personal) and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring) as non-participants. The Ben Brown injury update for the Patriots matters most up front. Brown and Vera-Tucker both left Sunday's 26-19 win over the New York Jets and did not finish the game. Davis has now missed ...
Read more

Bruins Rally Past Ducks 4-2: Lindholm, Pastrnak Spark Comeback

Image
The Boston Bruins stormed back from a two-goal first-period deficit to beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 on Friday night at Honda Center, scoring four unanswered goals -- three on the power play -- to extend their winning streak to four games and improve to 6-2-0 on the season. Bruins Erase 2-0 Hole in Anaheim The night started badly for Boston. Tim Washe opened the scoring with 37.3 seconds left in the first period, sliding a long wrist shot through a screen and through Michael DiPietro's legs. Just 21 seconds later, Beckett Sennecke finished a slick passing play -- Cutter Gauthier touching it to Nikita Nesterenko, who fed Sennecke for the redirect at the far post -- to make it 2-0. Sennecke's tally was his fifth of the season. Anaheim controlled the opening 20 minutes, but the Ducks went into a shell. They managed only four shots on goal in the third period and were blanked on five power-play chances after entering the night with the league's second-best power play at 33.3 perce...
Read more

Red Sox Trade Rumors: Padres 'Love' Jarren Duran, Says Heyman

Image
Jarren Duran's time in Boston could be running out. MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on the Bleacher Report app this week that if the Red Sox trade Duran this offseason, it will "probably be to the Padres because they love him." The Athletic's Dennis Lin added fuel, reporting that Boston and San Diego have had recent trade discussions centered on the 30-year-old outfielder, per multiple reports. There is no indication a deal is imminent, but the league-wide interest is real: several clubs have reached out to the Red Sox front office about Duran's availability. Why Duran Could Be On The Move The 2026 season was the worst of Duran's career. The former All-Star batted just .207 with a .627 OPS across 151 games, making him one of the least productive qualified hitters in baseball. That is a stunning fall from his 9.0-bWAR breakout campaign in 2024, and his production has now declined two straight years, from 4.9 bWAR in 2025 to 0.4 this season....
Read more

Red Sox Release Catcher Juan Montero After Six Years

Image
The Boston Red Sox have quietly begun their offseason housecleaning. The Worcester Red Sox released catcher Juan Montero earlier this week, ending the 24-year-old’s six-year run in the organization, according to the minor-league transactions log reflected on his official MiLB.com profile. The move was first reported Saturday. A Quiet End to a Six-Year Run Montero made his professional debut in 2021 and spent six seasons in the Red Sox farm system as a defense-first backstop. His profile was exactly that of a minor-league glove man: a solid defensive reputation tempered by limited offense and availability. Across 446 minor-league plate appearances, he slashed .209/.337/.302 with two home runs, 38 RBI and 122 strikeouts. The release clears a roster spot in Triple-A Worcester and signals that Montero was no longer part of the organization’s catching-depth plans. For Montero, it opens the door to free agency and a chance to catch on with another club before spring training. At 24, he remai...
Read more

Red Sox Land Three 2026 Gold Glove Finalists

Image
The Boston Red Sox may have fallen short in the Wild Card round, but their defense earned league-wide recognition this week. On Wednesday, Rawlings announced the 2026 Gold Glove Award finalists, and three Red Sox players made the cut: right fielder Wilyer Abreu, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and third baseman Caleb Durbin. Abreu Eyes a Third Straight Gold Glove Abreu is the headliner of the trio. The right fielder has won the award in each of the last two seasons, and the 2026 numbers suggest he remains the class of the position. He led all major league outfielders with 28 defensive runs saved and paced all right fielders with 13 assists. The competition in right field includes Toronto's Nathan Lukes and Houston's Cam Smith, but Abreu's track record and run-prevention totals make him a strong candidate to capture a third consecutive trophy. He also posted a career-best 24 home runs and 76 RBIs at the plate, rounding out one of the best all-around seasons of any Red Sox p...
Read more

Jonah Jackson Injury Update Clouds Bears Line vs Patriots

Image
Jonah Jackson Injury Update Clouds Bears Line vs Patriots Chicago Bears right guard Jonah Jackson is week-to-week with a hip flexor injury and is in serious doubt for Thursday Night Football against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field. Jackson was listed as did not practice on Monday's estimated injury report, and running back Kyle Monangai also did not practice, leaving the Chicago Bears run game short-handed on a short week. What Is the Latest Jonah Jackson Injury Update? Jonah Jackson left the Chicago Bears' Week 6 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the second half with a hip injury. Jackson was listed as doubtful after he exited the Atlanta Falcons game, and Jonah Jackson did not return. Per reports from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Jonah Jackson is dealing with a hip flexor injury and is considered week-to-week. Fowler reported that Jackson's status for Thursday night against the New England Patriots is in doubt, but the injury should not be long term. The official Wee...
Read more

Get Boston Sports in Your Inbox

The day's top Boston story and biggest headlines — free, every evening.

Subscribe Free