NBA opener: Detroit Pistons grab Celtics victory away

For a long time, the Boston Celtics had looked like the sure winner in the first game of the new season in the NBA – but then a grandiose final sprint of the Detroit Pistons provided the turnaround. Derrick White had the guests comfortably pulled out on ten points with a three-point throw, when there were still eight minutes to play, it was 99:89 for the guests. But the Pistons suddenly shifted up several gears on the offensive and defensive, less than five minutes later the intermediate result was 112:99 for the home team, which gave the perfect start. In the end, Detroit won 121:113. George towers, but gets little support In the opening match, however, a player of the losing team trumpped big, which many in the USA had already written off. The Celtics caused a stir with a blockbuster trade in the summer when they handed over their star Jaylen Brown and secured the services of the very injury-prone ex-top Paul George. However, the 36-year-old showed at the start how much class is still in him. With 38 points, George was by far the best single player on the field, his odds were also strong with around 57 percent shots, beyond the three-way line it was even 58 percent. Five steals and by far the best plus-minus balance of +9 (that is, with George on the floor, Boston scored nine points more than Detroit) rounded off a strong performance. His problem, however, was that with Jayson Tatum the poster child a rabbit day with 13 points and 26 percent hit rate. The Pistons, as usual, delivered Cade Cunningham (22 points and eight assists) and Jalen Duren (22 points and nine rebounds), but the victory brought two snipers, which not everyone had on the note. The threesomes of Duncan Robinsen (21 points) and Javonte Green (19) took the turn.