Duren: Detroit Pistons Comeback Vs. Celtics Embodies Motor City Culture

In an edition of matinee basketball, the Detroit Pistons completed the largest Opening Day comeback in the NBA since the play-by-play era began in 1997 with their 121-113 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday afternoon. 

After a fan-filled blue carpet arrival to start the day, the Pistons took a little bit of time to start clicking in the first half and dealt with turnover issues against a tenacious Celtics defense. On the other end, Paul George began his Boston tenure on a positive note with just under 20 points through the first two quarters, so the Pistons had a number of areas to clean up given their 58-45 halftime deficit. 

According to Cade Cunningham, it was Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff who delivered an impactful speech at the break and sparked the squad to have a quick response in the second half. Early in the third quarter, Javonte Green converted a series of corner three-pointers to start the comeback, then Detroit went on a 23-0 run in the final frame to put the game out of reach. 

”I think the comeback just embodied the culture and what we’re trying to build here,” Pistons center Jalen Duren said after the game. “We’re a team who is known to be gritty, known to get it out the mud, known to never quit. That’s our identity, so even the guys who are new here are embodying that. That’s why we were able to have the outcome we had.”

From a shooting perspective, Green hit five triples in the eight-point Pistons win, which tied him with Duncan Robinson for the team-lead in downtown shots. Together, Green and Robinson accounted for 10 of Detroit’s 15 three-pointers on the night with both veterans playing an integral scoring role for the Pistons down the stretch. 

As for Duren, Detroit’s All-Star big man had a productive outing going up against a revamped Celtics frontcourt featuring Mitchell Robinson at the five. JD finished tied for the team-high with 22 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in Detroit’s victory, and he was instrumental in creating a 10-rebound Pistons edge on the glass. 

From a defensive perspective, the Pistons had a difficult time containing George all game long with the veteran going off for 38 points. The Pistons essentially played an either-or game with George and Jayson Tatum since Ausar Thompson can’t be in two places at once— though he might be surprisingly effective if he tried. So, Thompson stuck to Tatum like glue for much of the matchup and frustrated the Celtics All-Star in the second half while George had a more uninhibited go at the bucket. Consider this the first feather in Thompson’s defensive cap for the 2026-27 campaign. 

In the end, Tatum contributed just 13 points on 6-for-23 shooting, which significantly hindered Boston’s chance at closing out the season-opening contest. 

Now that the Pistons are 1-0, the squad will have a couple days off before traveling south to face the Miami Heat at 8 pm on Friday, Oct. 23.