Pistons, 103-97 (final)
It’s official: If they’re going to raise banner No. 17, the Celtics have to win one on the road.
The Celtics fell to the Detroit Pistons, 103-97, in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden. The loss ended Boston’s 15-game home winning streak (9-0 in the playoffs). The series is tied, 1-1, with Game 3 coming Saturday night in Detroit.
A poor second quarter doomed the Celtics. Detroit shot an unwieldy 65 percent in the second, turning a two-point deficit into a 50-43 lead at the break.
To their credit, the Celtics came out hot after halftime and got the crowd back into the game. Boston led 58-54 with 7:26 remaining, but the Pistons closed the quarter on a 24-11 run. A three-pointer by Rasheed Wallace was the dagger, turning a manageable deficit into a nine-point bulge after three.
But it was a game of runs, and the Celtics had one more left in them. A jumper by P.J. Brown with 6:21 left got the Celtics to within, five, 86-81.
They kept chipping away.
Twice the Celtics got to within two points, the first on a three by Ray Allen with 5:09 left, and the second on a jumper by Kevin Garnett with 3:30 remaining. At that point, it was 92-90, Pistons.
Detroit scored the next four points of the game to go up 96-90 with 2:19 left, and the Pistons never really allowed the Celtics to get back in it. Allen brought the Celtics to within 100-97 on a desparation three-pointer, but the Pistons made their free throws to close out the win.
Rip Hamilton led six Pistons in double-figures with 25 points. All five Detroit starters, as well as reserve Rodney Stuckey, were in double-digits.
Pierce, Allen, and Garnett all topped 20 points for the Celtics. Rondo added 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The Celtics can take Allen’s reemergence tonight as a positive heading into Game 3. Allen had 25 points on 16 shots and seemed more confident on offense.
We’ll have postgame reaction, player interviews, and video from the Garden in a bit. Keep it here.
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