NightlyHoops
Back to NBA games · Oct 20, 2026

Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons, Oct 20, 2026

NBA · 2026-27Oct 20, 2026 · FinalRegular season

Boston Celtics

113AT

Detroit Pistons

121
Pistons vs Celtics: every meeting
STORY

Final

From the verified box score; records count this game

The Long ReadComeback

Pistons rally from 22 down as Celtics stall at 99

Boston led by 22 in the third quarter, then sat on 99 points while Detroit scored 23 straight in the fourth.

NightlyHoops desk · The Long ReadWritten by AI (Claude Opus 5.5) from the box score and play-by-play. Every number and name was checked against them.

With 8:00 left in the fourth quarter, the Boston Celtics led the Detroit Pistons 99-89.

Boston would not score again until 3:18 remained. By then Detroit had run off 23 straight points and led 99-112.

Who led, and by how much Hover or tap for the score at any moment

BOS ahead above the line · DET ahead below

3020101020Q1Q2Q3Q4BOS by 22DET by 13
The margin through the game, from the play-by-play. Above the line BOS leads; below it, DET.

The night had started as a trade. Cade Cunningham scored six straight Detroit points late in the first quarter, Payton Pritchard answered with six straight for Boston, and the Celtics carried a 28-27 edge into the second.

Then Detroit went cold. The Pistons went 6:00 of game clock without a field goal, from 8:14 to 2:14 left in the half, and Boston filled the gap with a 15-0 run that turned a 35-39 deficit into a 50-39 lead. Sam Hauser scored five in it.

Paul George took it from there. He scored 10 straight Celtics points across halftime, and Boston went to the break up 58-45. Early in the third, Jalen Duren scored six straight for Detroit, but George answered with a 9-0 run of his own, all nine points his. It ended at 72-50 with 8:32 left in the third quarter. That 22-point lead was Boston's largest.

George finished with 38 points on 12-of-21 shooting, 7 of 12 from three, with five steals. He scored 12 in the second quarter and 14 in the third.

Detroit began to close the gap in the middle of the third, through a player who had not scored in the first half.

Javonte Green scored 11 straight Pistons points between 5:09 and 3:06 left in the quarter. Green and Isaiah Joe then pushed an 8-0 run that pulled Detroit within 81-77 with 2:32 left. The Pistons scored 37 in the quarter and trailed only 88-82 going into the fourth.

Boston stretched the lead again, to 96-88. Duncan Robinson answered. He scored 11 straight Detroit points between 8:36 and 7:07 left, and when his stretch ended the Pistons were within 99-98.

The Celtics' last field goal had come with 8:19 left. Their drought would last 5:01.

With 6:41 to play, Green hit a running three, and Detroit went ahead for good at 99-101. Duren followed with a layup and a free throw. Robinson hit from 26 feet. Cunningham hit a step-back jumper. With 3:33 left, Green hit from 28 feet, and the lead was 13, at 99-112. Robinson scored 12 points in the run and 15 in the quarter.

Boston pushed back late. Derrick White hit two floaters, and George's three with 1:06 left cut it to 110-114. Ausar Thompson answered with a pull-up jumper. Pritchard hit a three with 0:07.5 left to make it 113-117, and Green and Cunningham closed it at the line.

The Pistons scored 76 points in the second half. Jayson Tatum, who had 11 assists, missed all seven of his three-point attempts.

First half
58-45BOS-DET
Second half
55-76BOS-DET
Largest lead
22Celtics
Lead changes
168 ties

When White's floater finally dropped with 3:18 left, Boston's 99 became 101. Detroit had 112.

Sources: the fact sheet this story was written from
  • GAME: Boston Celtics (BOS) at Detroit Pistons (DET), Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in Detroit. NBA regular season.
  • FINAL: Pistons 121, Celtics 113. (BOS 113, DET 121.) Final margin: 8.
  • POINTS BY QUARTER: BOS 28 30 30 25; DET 27 18 37 39.
  • SCORE AT THE END OF EACH PERIOD (BOS-DET): Q1 28-27, Q2 58-45, Q3 88-82, Q4 113-121.
  • HALVES: first half, Celtics 58, Pistons 45; second half, Celtics 55, Pistons 76.
  • LARGEST LEADS: BOS 22 (72-50, 8:32 left in the 3rd quarter); DET 13 (99-112, 3:33 left in the 4th quarter). Scores are BOS-DET.
  • LEAD CHANGES: 16. TIES: 8.
  • Pistons went ahead for good with 6:41 left in the 4th quarter, at 99-101 (Javonte Green, 3PT running).
  • RUNS (8 or more unanswered points; each scorer's points in the run):
  • - BOS 15-0 from 7:54 left in the 2nd quarter to 2:50 left in the 2nd quarter, 35-39 to 50-39 (Luka Garza 2, Paul George 4, Jayson Tatum 4, Sam Hauser 5)
  • - BOS 9-0 from 9:24 left in the 3rd quarter to 8:32 left in the 3rd quarter, 63-50 to 72-50 (Paul George 9)
  • - DET 8-0 from 4:01 left in the 3rd quarter to 2:32 left in the 3rd quarter, 81-69 to 81-77 (Javonte Green 6, Isaiah Joe 2)
  • - DET 23-0 from 8:00 left in the 4th quarter to 3:33 left in the 4th quarter, 99-89 to 99-112 (Duncan Robinson 12, Javonte Green 6, Jalen Duren 3, Cade Cunningham 2)
  • STRAIGHT TEAM POINTS BY ONE PLAYER (the other team may score in between):
  • - Payton Pritchard scored 6 straight Celtics points, from 2:25 left in the 1st quarter to 1:17 left in the 1st quarter (21-21, 22-24, 23-24, 24-25).
  • - Paul George scored 10 straight Celtics points, from 2:02 left in the 2nd quarter to 10:49 left in the 3rd quarter (53-41, 56-43, 57-43, 58-43, 60-47).
  • - Paul George scored 9 straight Celtics points, from 9:24 left in the 3rd quarter to 8:32 left in the 3rd quarter (66-50, 69-50, 72-50).
  • - Cade Cunningham scored 6 straight Pistons points, from 4:59 left in the 1st quarter to 3:05 left in the 1st quarter (15-17, 18-19, 18-21).
  • - Jalen Duren scored 6 straight Pistons points, from 9:48 left in the 3rd quarter to 7:59 left in the 3rd quarter (63-49, 63-50, 72-52, 72-53).
  • - Javonte Green scored 11 straight Pistons points, from 5:09 left in the 3rd quarter to 3:06 left in the 3rd quarter (78-65, 78-66, 78-69, 81-72, 81-75).
  • - Duncan Robinson scored 11 straight Pistons points, from 8:36 left in the 4th quarter to 7:07 left in the 4th quarter (96-88, 96-89, 99-92, 99-95, 99-96, 99-97, 99-98).
  • DROUGHT: Pistons went 6:00 of game clock without a field goal in the 2nd quarter, from 8:14 to 2:14 left.
  • DROUGHT: Celtics went 5:01 of game clock without a field goal in the 4th quarter, from 8:19 to 3:18 left.
  • TIMELINE (the facts above in game order, each at the moment it began; a later line began later; scores BOS-DET):
  • - 4:59 to 3:05 left in the 1st quarter: Cade Cunningham scores 6 straight Pistons points (15-17 after the first, 18-21 after the last).
  • - 2:25 to 1:17 left in the 1st quarter: Payton Pritchard scores 6 straight Celtics points (21-21 after the first, 24-25 after the last).
  • - End of the 1st quarter: 28-27.
  • - 8:14 to 2:14 left in the 2nd quarter: Pistons go without a field goal (6:00).
  • - 7:54 to 2:50 left in the 2nd quarter: BOS 15-0 run, 35-39 to 50-39.
  • - 2:02 left in the 2nd quarter to 10:49 left in the 3rd quarter: Paul George scores 10 straight Celtics points (53-41 after the first, 60-47 after the last).
  • - End of the 2nd quarter: 58-45.
  • - 9:48 to 7:59 left in the 3rd quarter: Jalen Duren scores 6 straight Pistons points (63-49 after the first, 72-53 after the last).
  • - 9:24 to 8:32 left in the 3rd quarter: BOS 9-0 run, 63-50 to 72-50.
  • - 9:24 to 8:32 left in the 3rd quarter: Paul George scores 9 straight Celtics points (66-50 after the first, 72-50 after the last).
  • - 8:32 left in the 3rd quarter: BOS leads by 22, its largest lead (72-50).
  • - 5:09 to 3:06 left in the 3rd quarter: Javonte Green scores 11 straight Pistons points (78-65 after the first, 81-75 after the last).
  • - 4:01 to 2:32 left in the 3rd quarter: DET 8-0 run, 81-69 to 81-77.
  • - End of the 3rd quarter: 88-82.
  • - 8:36 to 7:07 left in the 4th quarter: Duncan Robinson scores 11 straight Pistons points (96-88 after the first, 99-98 after the last).
  • - 8:19 to 3:18 left in the 4th quarter: Celtics go without a field goal (5:01).
  • - 8:00 to 3:33 left in the 4th quarter: DET 23-0 run, 99-89 to 99-112.
  • - 6:41 left in the 4th quarter: Pistons go ahead for good, 99-101.
  • - 3:33 left in the 4th quarter: DET leads by 13, its largest lead (99-112).
  • - End of the 4th quarter: 113-121.
  • TEAM TOTALS:
  • - BOS: FG 40-88 (45.5%), 3PT 17-42 (40.5%), FT 16-21, 39 rebounds (12 offensive), 28 assists, 14 turnovers, 10 steals, 5 blocks, 41 bench points
  • - DET: FG 39-86 (45.3%), 3PT 15-40 (37.5%), FT 28-32, 49 rebounds (14 offensive), 27 assists, 17 turnovers, 7 steals, 5 blocks, 39 bench points
  • PLAYERS, Boston Celtics:
  • - Paul George (starter, 31 min): 38 pts, 5 reb (0 off), 3 ast, FG 12-21, 3PT 7-12, FT 7-8, 5 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov, 5 fouls, +/- +9 | points by period 5-12-14-7
  • - Derrick White (starter, 36 min): 17 pts, 1 reb (1 off), 8 ast, FG 7-13, 3PT 3-7, FT 0-0, 1 stl, 0 blk, 4 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -4 | points by period 5-0-5-7
  • - Payton Pritchard (bench, 28 min): 17 pts, 4 reb (2 off), 1 ast, FG 4-9, 3PT 2-5, FT 7-8, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -10 | points by period 6-2-4-5
  • - Jayson Tatum (starter, 38 min): 13 pts, 4 reb (1 off), 11 ast, FG 6-23, 3PT 0-7, FT 1-1, 0 stl, 0 blk, 2 tov, 3 fouls, +/- -5 | points by period 7-4-0-2
  • - Sam Hauser (bench, 18 min): 11 pts, 4 reb (1 off), 1 ast, FG 4-7, 3PT 3-5, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +5 | points by period 3-5-3-0
  • - Baylor Scheierman (bench, 18 min): 8 pts, 3 reb (0 off), 0 ast, FG 3-4, 3PT 2-2, FT 0-0, 1 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 1 foul, +/- -10 | points by period 0-3-3-2
  • - Mitchell Robinson (starter, 18 min): 4 pts, 3 reb (1 off), 1 ast, FG 2-2, 3PT 0-0, FT 0-2, 1 stl, 2 blk, 2 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -8 | points by period 0-2-0-2
  • - Neemias Queta (bench, 22 min): 3 pts, 4 reb (1 off), 2 ast, FG 1-3, 3PT 0-0, FT 1-2, 1 stl, 2 blk, 1 tov, 4 fouls, +/- +7 | points by period 2-0-1-0
  • - Luka Garza (bench, 8 min): 2 pts, 2 reb (2 off), 0 ast, FG 1-3, 3PT 0-2, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 4 fouls, +/- -9 | points by period 0-2-0-0
  • - Hugo González (bench, 10 min): 0 pts, 3 reb (0 off), 0 ast, FG 0-1, 3PT 0-1, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 0 fouls, +/- -15
  • - Jordan Walsh (starter, 13 min): 0 pts, 6 reb (3 off), 1 ast, FG 0-2, 3PT 0-1, FT 0-0, 1 stl, 1 blk, 0 tov, 0 fouls, +/- 0
  • PLAYERS, Detroit Pistons:
  • - Cade Cunningham (starter, 35 min): 22 pts, 4 reb (0 off), 8 ast, FG 8-18, 3PT 1-6, FT 5-5, 1 stl, 1 blk, 5 tov, 0 fouls, +/- -1 | points by period 6-2-6-8
  • - Jalen Duren (starter, 28 min): 22 pts, 9 reb (3 off), 1 ast, FG 8-13, 3PT 0-0, FT 6-7, 1 stl, 1 blk, 1 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -1 | points by period 5-8-6-3
  • - Duncan Robinson (starter, 28 min): 21 pts, 2 reb (0 off), 2 ast, FG 5-10, 3PT 5-9, FT 6-8, 1 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov, 4 fouls, +/- +5 | points by period 3-0-3-15
  • - Javonte Green (bench, 18 min): 19 pts, 4 reb (1 off), 0 ast, FG 5-10, 3PT 5-8, FT 4-4, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 2 fouls, +/- +21 | points by period 0-0-11-8
  • - Ausar Thompson (starter, 33 min): 11 pts, 11 reb (3 off), 5 ast, FG 4-8, 3PT 0-1, FT 3-3, 1 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +12 | points by period 4-2-0-5
  • - Isaiah Joe (bench, 19 min): 8 pts, 2 reb (0 off), 2 ast, FG 2-9, 3PT 2-7, FT 2-3, 1 stl, 1 blk, 1 tov, 0 fouls, +/- 0 | points by period 0-3-5-0
  • - John Collins (starter, 25 min): 6 pts, 5 reb (2 off), 1 ast, FG 3-7, 3PT 0-3, FT 0-0, 1 stl, 1 blk, 0 tov, 0 fouls, +/- -13 | points by period 4-0-2-0
  • - Paul Reed (bench, 17 min): 6 pts, 6 reb (2 off), 2 ast, FG 2-3, 3PT 0-0, FT 2-2, 1 stl, 0 blk, 2 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +12 | points by period 2-0-4-0
  • - Daniss Jenkins (bench, 15 min): 3 pts, 2 reb (2 off), 3 ast, FG 1-3, 3PT 1-1, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 4 fouls, +/- +4 | points by period 0-3-0-0
  • - Kevin Huerter (bench, 18 min): 3 pts, 3 reb (0 off), 2 ast, FG 1-4, 3PT 1-4, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 2 fouls, +/- +5 | points by period 3-0-0-0
  • - Ronald Holland II (bench, 3 min): 0 pts, 1 reb (1 off), 1 ast, FG 0-1, 3PT 0-1, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 1 blk, 1 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -4
  • PLAYER FACTS:
  • - Duncan Robinson scored 15 in the 4th quarter.
  • - Jayson Tatum made 0 of 7 three-point attempts.
  • - Paul George scored 12 in the 2nd quarter.
  • - Paul George scored 14 in the 3rd quarter.
  • - Paul George made 6 field goals in a row.
  • - Paul George picked up a 5th foul with 0:00.6 left in the 4th quarter.
  • SCORING PLAYS IN THE LAST 6:00 OF THE 4TH QUARTER (BOS-DET after the play):
  • - 5:50 DET +2 Jalen Duren (running Layup) -> 99-103
  • - 5:50 DET +1 Jalen Duren (Free Throw 1 of 1) -> 99-104
  • - 5:13 DET +3 Duncan Robinson (26' 3PT) -> 99-107
  • - 4:27 DET +2 Cade Cunningham (15' step back Jump Shot) -> 99-109
  • - 3:33 DET +3 Javonte Green (28' 3PT) -> 99-112
  • - 3:18 BOS +2 Derrick White (7' driving floating Jump Shot) -> 101-112
  • - 2:31 BOS +2 Jayson Tatum (17' pullup bank Jump Shot) -> 103-112
  • - 2:16 DET +2 Cade Cunningham (driving Layup) -> 103-114
  • - 2:02 BOS +1 Paul George (Free Throw 1 of 2) -> 104-114
  • - 2:02 BOS +1 Paul George (Free Throw 2 of 2) -> 105-114
  • - 1:26 BOS +2 Derrick White (6' driving floating Jump Shot) -> 107-114
  • - 1:06 BOS +3 Paul George (26' 3PT) -> 110-114
  • - 0:41 DET +2 Ausar Thompson (pullup Jump Shot) -> 110-116
  • - 0:18.2 DET +1 Duncan Robinson (Free Throw 2 of 2) -> 110-117
  • - 0:07.5 BOS +3 Payton Pritchard (25' 3PT) -> 113-117
  • - 0:06.7 DET +1 Javonte Green (Free Throw 1 of 2) -> 113-118
  • - 0:06.7 DET +1 Javonte Green (Free Throw 2 of 2) -> 113-119
  • - 0:00.6 DET +1 Cade Cunningham (Free Throw 1 of 2) -> 113-120
  • - 0:00.6 DET +1 Cade Cunningham (Free Throw 2 of 2) -> 113-121
  • FINAL POSSESSIONS: every shot, free throw, foul, turnover and violation in the last 1:00 of the 4th quarter (BOS-DET after the play):
  • - 0:41 DET Ausar Thompson made (pullup Jump Shot) -> 110-116
  • - 0:30.5 BOS Jayson Tatum missed (11' pullup Shot) -> 110-116
  • - 0:18.2 BOS Celtics foul -> 110-116
  • - 0:18.2 DET Duncan Robinson missed free throw 1 of 2 -> 110-116
  • - 0:18.2 DET Duncan Robinson made free throw 2 of 2 -> 110-117
  • - 0:11.2 BOS Paul George missed (25' pullup 3PT) -> 110-117
  • - 0:07.5 BOS Payton Pritchard made (25' 3PT) -> 113-117
  • - 0:06.7 BOS Derrick White, take personal foul -> 113-117
  • - 0:06.7 DET Javonte Green made free throw 1 of 2 -> 113-118
  • - 0:06.7 DET Javonte Green made free throw 2 of 2 -> 113-119
  • - 0:01.3 BOS Payton Pritchard missed (28' 3PT) -> 113-119
  • - 0:00.6 BOS Paul George, take personal foul -> 113-119
  • - 0:00.6 DET Cade Cunningham made free throw 1 of 2 -> 113-120
  • - 0:00.6 DET Cade Cunningham made free throw 2 of 2 -> 113-121
  • ANGLE: Comeback. VOICE: The Long Read.
SELECTED PLAYER
PG

Paul George

BOS · Starter · 30:35 MIN

BOX SCORE

Player contributions

Choose any row to inspect

Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons: one row per player, by points, highest first. Team totals add up the player rows.
PLAYERMINPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOVPFFG3PTFT+/-
30:353853503512–217–127–8+9
35:17224811508–181–65–5-1
28:02229111128–130–06–7-1
27:48212210345–105–96–8+5
17:49194000025–105–84–4+21
35:55171810427–133–70–0-4
27:30174100024–92–57–8-10
37:491341100236–230–71–1-5
33:151111510334–80–13–3+12
18:10114100034–73–50–0+5
18:1483010113–42–20–0-10
19:1782211102–92–72–30
25:2765111003–70–30–0-13
16:4266210232–30–02–2+12
18:0643112222–20–00–2-8
15:2032300141–31–10–0+4
18:1633200021–41–40–0+5
22:0734212141–30–01–2+7
8:2122000141–30–20–0-9
9:4303000000–10–10–0-15
13:2806111000–20–10–00
2:4501101120–10–10–0-4
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
BOS totalsSum of 11 player lines1133928105142640–8817–4216–21
DET totalsSum of 11 player lines121492775172239–8615–4028–32

Team totals add up the player rows above. DNP: did not play. —: not recorded. Quarter scores are not shown.

SURPRISES

Against their usual

Regular season · Game Score against each player's usual line

BOSBoston Celtics

Every scored player stayed within the usual range.

DETDetroit Pistons

Every scored player stayed within the usual range.