Despite leading by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, the Celtics struggled on offense and couldn't find a way to keep the Pistons from closing the gap and eventually taking the lead. After scoring 30 points in the first quarter alone, the Celtics only scored 30 points total in the entire second half.
Pistons 92, Celtics 86
The Palace at Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Mich.
Jan. 20, 2010
Headliner: Detroit guard Rodney Stuckey led all scorers with 27 points, posting a double-double that included 11 rebounds and six assists. Stuckey shot 11-for-24 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the line in 41-plus minutes of play. The 27 points were Stuckey's highest total since he scored 31 on Dec. 18 against the Thunder.
Unsung Hero: Paul Pierce came out on the losing end, but he still managed to put together a solid night. Pierce scored 21 points, going 6-for-12 from the floor and 7-for-7 from the line. He knocked down two 3-pointers on five attempts and finished the night with six rebounds and two assists.
Scrub: Ray Allen played 34 minutes against the Pistons, but the Celtics could have done without him. Allen scored just eight points, as he went 3-for-10 from the floor, including an uncharacteristic 0-for-4 mark from behind the arc. The Celtics shooting guard committed a team-high five turnovers and didn't looked like his usual self all night.
Turning Point: The Celtics held a 12-point advantage over the Pistons halfway through the second quarter, and they were sitting on an eight-point lead at halftime. But before the third quarter was over, the Pistons had fought all the way back to tie the game 69-69. The Celtics were only able to muster 13 points in the third, as they shot 3-for-10 from the floor in the quarter.
Up Next: The Celtics return home to host the Trail Blazers on Friday and the Clippers on Monday. With the loss to the Pistons, the Celtics have now lost three in a row and four of their last five. Maybe a return to the Garden will help the C's out, though they are just 11-7 at home this season.
