The Detroit Pistons played their best game of the season on Friday night in Boston's home opener, but still lost by double digits. Detroit is 0-3 to start the season for the second straight year.
Trailing by just seven at the half, the Pistons were outscored 36-21 in the third quarter wherein the Celtics were 15-of-21 shooting (Pistons were 9-of-19).
In the fourth quarter, the Pistons did a good job making the score look respectable in garbage time by outscoring the Celtics 9-0 in the final three and a half minutes. The real positive of the night was the Pistons outrebounded the Celtics after getting crushed on the boards in the first two games.
Greg Monroe was the leader for the Pistons with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting and nine rebounds. Jermaine O'Neal led the Celtics with 19 points and seven rebounds.
The Pistons return to the hardwood tomorrow against the undefeated Indiana Pacers, who they lost to in the season opener.
For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. For more on the Celtics, check out the appropriately named Celtics Blog.
The 0-2 Pistons were on the road tonight in Boston against the also winless Celtics. The Pistons played what was probably their best quarter of the young season in the first, but followed it up with a sloppy second and, as a result, find themselves in a seven-point hole.
Detroit actually outrebounded, had more assists, and less turnovers than Boston in the first half, but the Celtics shot 52-percent to Detroit's 44-percent (1-of-11 from downtown).
Paul Pierce is playing in his first game of the season after missing the first three games with a heel injury. He had six points, four rebounds, and two assists in 15 minutes. Jermain O'Neal leads the Celtics with 10 points.
The Pistons are being led by none other than second year big man Greg Monroe. He has 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and also had four rebounds and two assists.
The best Pistons blog on the web can be found at Detroit Bad Boys. For more on the Celtics, check out the appropriately named Celtics Blog.
