Celtics, 88-79 (final)
They’ve still got it.
Just two days removed from their triumph over the Cavaliers in Game 7 of the conference semifinals, the Celtics returned home Tuesday night and dispatched of the Pistons, 88-79, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics lead the best-of-seven series, 1-0.
The game was close at halftime (41-40), but the Celtics opened up a 12-point led after the third quarter as Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce combined for 17 points in the period.
Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups combined to go just 2 of 10 in the first three quarters for Detroit.
Despite the deficit, the Pistons did not fold in the fourth. Wallace found his stroke for 5 early points, and the Pistons were within 8 on several occasions, the latest coming with 2:10 remaining in the game.
Enter Rajon Rondo. The Celtics point guard drained a 3-pointer at the 1:47 mark to give the Celtics some insurance. The Pistons would not recover.
Rondo outplayed Billups the entire game, finishing with 11 points and 7 assists to Billups’s 9 points and 1 assist. He turned Boston’s biggest perceived disadvantage in this series to a positive.
Garnett led the Celtics with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting. Pierce had 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
For teams known for their defense, the Celtics (52 percent) and Pistons (42 percent) shot fairly well from the floor.
Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 16 points. Rip Hamilton had 15.
It didn’t show up in the stat sheet, but P.J. Brown was huge off the bench for the Celtics. Brown had 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, but the team showed no letdown in his 16 minutes on the floor.
The teams are back at the Garden for Game 2 at 8:30 Thursday night.
We’ll have plenty of postgame reaction, and video, from both locker rooms shortly. Keep it here.
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