On a team with three superstars, other players on the Boston Celtics often get lost in the shuffle and media circus growing around this outstanding team. Last night, Boston went into Detroit and beat the Pistons, 92-85, earning their ninth win in a row in the process.
Without a doubt, the key player of the game was Celtics rookie forward Glen Davis, who had 20 points and four rebounds. Big Baby put home 16 points in the fourth quarter alone as he repeatedly was wide open under the hoop then finished while he got hacked. If you saw Davis in college you knew he could play but like many players who aren't flashy dunkers or who can't score 40 points on a given night, he was unnecessarily forgotten in the draft. The Celts picked him up in the Ray Allen trade and that's already looking like a steal.
The Pistons (26-8) came in riding an 11 game win streak and in the first quarter, they completely shutdown the C's (29-3). Detroit outscored Boston 22-12 and Kevin Garnett (15 points, 5 rebounds) picked up his second foul pretty early and had to sit.
Boston roared back in the second quarter, led by Paul Pierce (19 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists), who is playing as well as anybody on the planet right now. The Celts outscored the Pistons, 29-21 in the second frame and entered halftime down two, 43-41.
Detroit has been in a million big games over the last six or seven years and they responded in the third. Richard Hamilton (18 points, 8 assists, 4 boards), Chauncey Billups (17 points, 6 assists, 4 boards) and Rasheed Wallace (16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks) all made plays. Even Jason Maxiell (13 points, 4 rebounds) was good although Tayshaun Prince (7 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds) wasn't his usual self.
Tony Allen (10 points, 4 rebounds) continued his fine work while Ray Allen (9 points, 6 rebounds) had another off-night. Kendrick Perkins added seven points and nine rebounds.
The fourth quarter last night was pretty much the polar opposite of the first meeting: Boston (particularly Davis) made all the plays while Detroit bricked shots and turned the ball over. The C's outscored the Pistons 29-19 in the fourth to seal off a great win.
Detroit shot 39.2% from the floor while Boston was 41.9%. The Pistons made three more 3-pointers (7-4) but Boston made 10 more free throws (26-16). The biggest statistical advantage was in rebounds: Boston owned the glass (50-36). That helped to diminish their lack of assists (14 to the Pistons 23) and turnovers (13 vs. 6).
The game had all the look and feel of a late May playoff battle. Intensity was written over all the players faces and the Detroit crowd was hyped from the start. The Pistons will certainly be the Celts biggest roadblock in the Eastern Conference playoffs. So far, home court doesn't seem to be much of an advantage to these two very evenly matched squads.
Boston has until Wednesday to rest and recover. The Bobcats come to the Garden on Wednesday night.
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