The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons opened the 2026-27 NBA season with the Pistons overcoming a 22-point second-half deficit for a home victory and overshadowing Paul George’s impressive Celtics debut.

In a matchup of two teams who should contend for supremacy in the Eastern Conference, Detroit defeated Boston 121-113 Tuesday in the first game of an opening-day tripleheader.

Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 22 points and nine rebounds, Cade Cunningham added 22 points and eight assists, Duncan Robinson contributed 21 points and the Pistons almost had a fourth player reach 20 points.

The Pistons trailed 72-50 with 8:32 remaining in the third quarter and 99-89 with 8:19 left in the fourth quarter. But Detroit outscored Boston 23-0 in a five-minute stretch, taking a 112-99 lead with 3:33 left in the game.

Here are five key takeaways from the game:

1. 20-point deficits are not insurmountable

It may look like a team is headed for victory with a 20-point lead in the third quarter. But we know it doesn’t always play out like that, especially in a 48-minute NBA game.

Just go back to last season’s playoffs when the New York Knicks trailed by 22 in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and won. The Knicks were behind 81-52 in the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals and were victorious. The Pistons faced a 24-point deficit in Game 6 against the Orlando Magic in last season’s first-round series and forced Game 7.

The lesson: Just keep playing, and that’s what the Pistons did. Detroit’s 22-point comeback is the largest on the first day of the NBA season since 1997-98 according to the NBA.

“When we outwork you, we’re going to be hard to beat,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.

2. Great shooting from Robinson, Green rescues Pistons

Detroit’s Javonte Green and Robinson each made five 3-pointers and were instrumental in helping the Pistons get back in the game and then secure the victory.

Green did not play in the first half, but looking for a charge off the bench, Bickerstaff inserted him into the game with 7:26 remaining in the third quarter and Detroit trailing 74-53. Green missed his first 3-point attempt but had 11 of his 19 points in a two-minute run on three 3-pointers and two free throws.

“We have a high-level trust in everybody on our roster,” Bickerstaff said. “We know that any point in time, we’ve got a guy we can put in depending on what the mood calls for. Tonight, we needed a little bit of a boost and Woo (Green’s nickname), time and time again, does it for us. You throw in the shot-making, what he was doing defensively and the energy that he brought. He could’ve sat over there (angry) because he didn’t play in the first half. But that’s not the makeup of this group. It’s not his character.”

Robinson took over in the fourth, scoring 15 points – nine came on 3s and he was 6-for-8 on free throws. The Celtics fouled him twice on 3-point attempts in the final quarter.

3. Cunningham, Duren ready to play

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, who were both All-Stars and All-NBA selections last season, were integral parts of Detroit’s victory.

Duren missed the first week of training camp as he and the team negotiated a new contract, and he played in two preseason games. He had 13 points in the first half, and three of his rebounds came on the offensive end where the Pistons had a 24-16 edge in second-chance points.

Cunningham had 14 points in the second half, including eight in the fourth quarter.

4. George impressive in Celtics debut

With so much focus on the Celtics trading Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia, George shouldn’t get lost in the discussion. He is a nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA performer and can still rack up points – a game-high 38 against Detroit, which topped Kristaps Porziņģis (30 in 2023) for the most points in a Celtics debut.

He had 17 points in the first half and 14 in the third quarter – and made three consecutive Celtics 3s for a 72-50 Boston advantage in the third. George finished 12-for-21 from the field and 7-for-12 on 3s.

In the second quarter, NBC play-by-play announcer Terry Gannon said, “If you were wondering what Paul George in a Celtics uniform was going to look like, it’s a pretty good look right now.”

5. Mixed results for Tatum

Jayson Tatum had just 13 points on 6-for-23 shooting, including 0-for-7 on 3s. He was 1-for-10 with just two points in the second half. He contributed a game-high 11 assists.

“I just want him to continue to make the right play,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “If he’s open, shoot it. I don’t care if he’s 0-for-10. … I thought he had found a good balance of making his shots and making plays. With the 11 assists, I think you’re playing the game the right way. Just got to execute a little more.”

Bickerstaff credited Ausar Thompson’s defense.

“You get him in one-on-one situations, you’re going to be in for a long night no matter who you are,” Bickerstaff said.

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