Jermaine O' Neal delivers as Boston Celtics overpower Detroit Pistons 96-85 - NBA Recap
After a dismal start to the shortened season with three straight losses, Boston Celtics finally gathered some momentum and collected their first win by downing Detroit Pistons 96-85 at their home on Friday night.
Celtics star, Paul Pierce who missed all the starting three games due to a bruised right heel took no time in adjusting and pounded 12 points in his season debut.
"It felt good to finally get out there," Pierce said. "I was expecting to be me and I don't settle for anything less. I worked tremendously hard. I did a lot of things. I did what I could do coming into the game, as much as I could,
other than practice. I just stayed focused."
However, it was not Pierce who stole the show tonight.
Center Jermaine O’ Neal, who was invisible in the first three games and only managed to score 8 points in total, shined tonight with 19 points on 7 for 9 from the floor and 7 rebounds.
"Playing extended minutes, you can get a rhythm, you can get a flow, you can get comfortable with what the team was doing," said O'Neal. "In the first couple of games I was in and out of there so fast it was almost impossible to
get any flow to the game."
Ray Allen and Brandon Bass showed up as well and bundled 17 points each.
Celtics were more aggressive of the both teams and outclassed the Pistons in each and every department, be it shooting from the floor (52.2 %- 43 %), from beyond the arc (43.8 %- 18.8), charity stripe (100 %- 93.3) or assists (25-18).
Greg Monroe led the Pistons with a game high 22 points and 9 rebounds. Austin Daye drained 11 points and 5 boards while Tayshaun Prince, Brandon Knight and Jonas Jerebko registered 10 points apiece.
After ending the first quarter with a 2 point lead 24-22, Celtics used 12-4 run in the starting minutes of second frame to take the lead in to double figures. Pistons however fought well and were in the game by the end of the first
half, trailing behind by just 7 points 43-50.
It was the third quarter that decided the fate of the game. Boston outscored Pistons 36-21, to end the third frame with a mammoth 22 point lead 86-64 and the Pistons never managed to recover after that, despite of Celtics getting
complacent in the end. The C’s gave away 21 points as compared to 10 in the fourth, but still managed to win the game without a hitch.
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