Boston Celtics @ Detroit Pistons: Oct 20, 2026

Updated
Regular Season
Boston CelticsCeltics
0-1 · Away
113–121
Final
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Detroit PistonsPistons
1-0 · Home

Celtics vs Pistons final: the Detroit Pistons beat the Boston Celtics 121-113 on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.

Score by Quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Celtics28303025113
Pistons27183739121

Top Performers

Celtics

Pistons

Celtics vs Pistons Box Score

Boston Celtics
PlayerMINPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOFG3PTFT+/-
Jordan Walsh F130611100-20-10-00
Mitchell Robinson CF184311222-20-00-2-8
Jayson Tatum FG37134110026-230-71-1-5
Derrick White G3517181047-133-70-0-4
Paul George F30385350312-217-127-8+9
Bench
Payton Pritchard G2717410004-92-57-8-10
Hugo Gonzalez G90300000-10-10-0-15
Neemias Queta C223421211-30-01-2+7
Luka Garza C82200011-30-20-0-9
Baylor Scheierman G188301013-42-20-0-10
Sam Hauser GF1811410004-73-50-0+5
Detroit Pistons
PlayerMINPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOFG3PTFT+/-
Jalen Duren C2822911118-130-06-7-1
Ausar Thompson GF33111151034-80-13-3+12
Duncan Robinson F2721221035-105-96-8+5
John Collins FC256511103-70-30-0-13
Cade Cunningham G3522481158-181-65-5-1
Bench
Javonte Green GF1719400005-105-84-4+21
Isaiah Joe G198221112-92-72-30
Daniss Jenkins G153230011-31-10-0+4
Kevin Huerter GF183320001-41-40-0+5
Ron Holland F20110110-10-10-0-4
Paul Reed F166621022-30-02-2+12

Celtics vs Pistons Recap

The Pistons beat the Celtics with a 39-25 fourth quarter after trailing by 13 at halftime. Detroit opened the regular season 1-0, and Boston is 0-1.

A 37-30 third quarter cut a 13-point halftime gap to 6. Boston still led 88-82 after three quarters. Detroit outscored the Celtics by 14 in the fourth. The Pistons also won the boards, 49 rebounds to 39, and made 28 of 32 free throws against 16 of 21 for Boston.

Paul George scored 38 points for the Celtics, and Jayson Tatum added 11 assists. Jalen Duren led Detroit with 22 points, Ausar Thompson grabbed 11 rebounds, and Cade Cunningham had 8 assists. The Pistons shot 39 of 86 from the field, while the Celtics made 40 of 88 and committed 14 turnovers.

The number to know: 22. That was Boston's largest lead, and Detroit still erased it.

Team Stats

CelticsStatPistons
40-88Field Goals39-86
45.5%FG %45.3%
17-423-Pointers15-40
40.5%3P %37.5%
16-21Free Throws28-32
76.2%FT %87.5%
39Rebounds49
12Off. Rebounds14
28Assists27
10Steals7
5Blocks5
14Turnovers17
26Fouls22
22Biggest Lead13

Four Factors

TeamEffective FG%Turnover %Off. rebound %FT rate (FTM/FGA)
Celtics55.1%12.6%25.5%0.182
Pistons54.1%14.5%34.1%0.326

Dean Oliver's four factors decide most games: shooting, turnovers, offensive rebounding and free throws. Better side highlighted.

Game Flow

Pistons leadCeltics lead
Q1Q2Q3Q4
Lead changes
16
Times tied
8
Pistons largest lead
13
Celtics largest lead
22
Play-by-Play

Scoring plays, newest first. Score shown Celtics-Pistons.

1st Quarter 28 scoring plays
  • 0:01CelticsJayson Tatum +228-27
  • 0:14PistonsJalen Duren +226-27
  • 0:48CelticsNeemias Queta +226-25
  • 1:17CelticsPayton Pritchard +124-25
  • 1:37PistonsJalen Duren +123-25
  • 1:57CelticsPayton Pritchard +123-24
  • 1:57CelticsPayton Pritchard +122-24
  • 2:08PistonsKevin Huerter +321-24
  • 2:25CelticsPayton Pritchard +321-21
  • 3:05PistonsCade Cunningham +218-21
  • 3:40PistonsCade Cunningham +218-19
  • 4:43CelticsSam Hauser +318-17
  • 4:59PistonsCade Cunningham +215-17
  • 5:12CelticsJayson Tatum +215-15
  • 5:56PistonsAusar Thompson +213-15
  • 6:15CelticsDerrick White +213-13
  • 6:48PistonsPaul Reed +211-13
  • 7:24PistonsJohn Collins +211-11
  • 7:58CelticsDerrick White +311-9
  • 8:11PistonsAusar Thompson +18-9
  • 8:11PistonsAusar Thompson +18-8
  • 8:28CelticsPaul George +28-7
  • 9:25PistonsDuncan Robinson +36-7
  • 9:41CelticsPaul George +36-4
  • 10:19CelticsJayson Tatum +13-4
  • 10:19CelticsJayson Tatum +22-4
  • 10:36PistonsJalen Duren +20-4
  • 11:09PistonsJohn Collins +20-2
2nd Quarter 26 scoring plays
  • 0:36PistonsCade Cunningham +158-45
  • 0:36PistonsCade Cunningham +158-44
  • 1:11CelticsPaul George +158-43
  • 1:11CelticsPaul George +157-43
  • 1:40CelticsPaul George +356-43
  • 1:50PistonsJalen Duren +253-43
  • 2:02CelticsPaul George +353-41
  • 2:14PistonsJalen Duren +250-41
  • 2:50CelticsSam Hauser +350-39
  • 3:27CelticsJayson Tatum +247-39
  • 4:27CelticsSam Hauser +245-39
  • 4:54CelticsJayson Tatum +243-39
  • 5:27CelticsPaul George +141-39
  • 5:27CelticsPaul George +140-39
  • 7:24CelticsPaul George +239-39
  • 7:54CelticsLuka Garza +237-39
  • 8:14PistonsDaniss Jenkins +335-39
  • 8:51PistonsJalen Duren +135-36
  • 8:51PistonsJalen Duren +135-35
  • 9:05CelticsPayton Pritchard +135-34
  • 9:05CelticsPayton Pritchard +134-34
  • 9:29PistonsJalen Duren +233-34
  • 10:20PistonsAusar Thompson +233-32
  • 11:05CelticsMitchell Robinson +233-30
  • 11:15PistonsIsaiah Joe +331-30
  • 11:38CelticsBaylor Scheierman +331-27
3rd Quarter 34 scoring plays
  • 0:02CelticsBaylor Scheierman +388-82
  • 0:54PistonsIsaiah Joe +385-82
  • 1:47CelticsPayton Pritchard +285-79
  • 2:12PistonsPaul Reed +183-79
  • 2:12PistonsPaul Reed +183-78
  • 2:21CelticsPayton Pritchard +183-77
  • 2:21CelticsPayton Pritchard +182-77
  • 2:32PistonsIsaiah Joe +181-77
  • 2:32PistonsIsaiah Joe +181-76
  • 3:06PistonsJavonte Green +381-75
  • 4:01PistonsJavonte Green +381-72
  • 4:20CelticsSam Hauser +381-69
  • 4:40PistonsJavonte Green +378-69
  • 5:09PistonsJavonte Green +178-66
  • 5:09PistonsJavonte Green +178-65
  • 5:33CelticsNeemias Queta +178-64
  • 5:46PistonsPaul Reed +277-64
  • 6:21PistonsCade Cunningham +177-62
  • 6:21PistonsCade Cunningham +277-61
  • 6:30CelticsPaul George +177-59
  • 6:30CelticsPaul George +276-59
  • 6:40PistonsDuncan Robinson +374-59
  • 7:04PistonsCade Cunningham +374-56
  • 7:42CelticsDerrick White +274-53
  • 7:59PistonsJalen Duren +172-53
  • 7:59PistonsJalen Duren +272-52
  • 8:32CelticsPaul George +372-50
  • 8:57CelticsPaul George +369-50
  • 9:24CelticsPaul George +366-50
  • 9:48PistonsJalen Duren +163-50
  • 9:48PistonsJalen Duren +263-49
  • 10:12CelticsDerrick White +363-47
  • 10:49CelticsPaul George +260-47
  • 11:08PistonsJohn Collins +258-47
4th Quarter 35 scoring plays
  • 0:01PistonsCade Cunningham +1113-121
  • 0:01PistonsCade Cunningham +1113-120
  • 0:07PistonsJavonte Green +1113-119
  • 0:07PistonsJavonte Green +1113-118
  • 0:08CelticsPayton Pritchard +3113-117
  • 0:19PistonsDuncan Robinson +1110-117
  • 0:41PistonsAusar Thompson +2110-116
  • 1:06CelticsPaul George +3110-114
  • 1:26CelticsDerrick White +2107-114
  • 2:02CelticsPaul George +1105-114
  • 2:02CelticsPaul George +1104-114
  • 2:16PistonsCade Cunningham +2103-114
  • 2:31CelticsJayson Tatum +2103-112
  • 3:18CelticsDerrick White +2101-112
  • 3:33PistonsJavonte Green +399-112
  • 4:27PistonsCade Cunningham +299-109
  • 5:13PistonsDuncan Robinson +399-107
  • 5:50PistonsJalen Duren +199-104
  • 5:50PistonsJalen Duren +299-103
  • 6:41PistonsJavonte Green +399-101
  • 7:07PistonsDuncan Robinson +199-98
  • 7:07PistonsDuncan Robinson +199-97
  • 7:07PistonsDuncan Robinson +199-96
  • 7:34PistonsDuncan Robinson +399-95
  • 8:00PistonsDuncan Robinson +399-92
  • 8:19CelticsDerrick White +399-89
  • 8:36PistonsDuncan Robinson +196-89
  • 8:36PistonsDuncan Robinson +196-88
  • 9:36PistonsAusar Thompson +196-87
  • 9:36PistonsAusar Thompson +296-86
  • 9:49CelticsBaylor Scheierman +296-84
  • 10:18CelticsMitchell Robinson +294-84
  • 11:15CelticsPayton Pritchard +292-84
  • 11:33PistonsCade Cunningham +290-84
  • 11:48CelticsPaul George +290-82

Celtics vs Pistons Game Info

Date & time
Tuesday, October 20, 20263:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT
TV
NBC and Peacock Free over the air
Arena
Little Caesars ArenaDetroit
Season
2026-27 NBA SeasonRegular season

Celtics vs Pistons Season Stats 2026-27

Celtics 2 GPPistons 3 GP
110.0#22
Points per game
118.3#11
112.0#12
Opponent points
105.7#5
45.7%#16
Field goal %
47.3%#11
39.5%#6
Three-point %
42.0%#2
75.7%#17
Free throw %
77.9%#11
38.0#29
Rebounds
52.0#2
26.5#10
Assists
28.7#4
8.5#19
Steals
6.3#27
4.5#18
Blocks
7.7#3
12.0#2
Turnovers
17.0#21

Regular-season averages; rank of 30 teams.

Recent Form & Head-to-Head
2026-27 season seriesFirst meeting this season
2025-26 season seriesPistons 3-1

Previous meetings

More NBA Games on Oct 20, 2026

That covers Celtics vs Pistons: score, leaders and box score above. Next: Celtics host the Bulls Oct 26; Pistons visit the Knicks Oct 27.

Celtics vs Pistons FAQs

Who won Celtics vs Pistons on Oct 20, 2026?

The Detroit Pistons beat the Boston Celtics 121-113 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 22 points.

What are the Celtics and Pistons records?

After this game the Celtics were 0-1 and the Pistons were 1-0 this season.

Who was the top scorer in Celtics vs Pistons?

Paul George scored 38 for the Celtics. Jalen Duren scored 22 for the Pistons.

How did Celtics vs Pistons go last season?

The Pistons won the regular-season series 3-1 in 2025-26.

Who won the last Celtics vs Pistons game?

The Pistons beat the Celtics 104-103 on Jan 19, 2026 at home.

Where was Celtics vs Pistons played?

At Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the home arena of the Detroit Pistons.

What was the score by quarter in Celtics vs Pistons?

Celtics-Pistons: Q1 28-27, Q2 30-18, Q3 30-37, Q4 25-39.

What is next for the Celtics and Pistons?

Celtics host the Bulls on Monday, October 26 at 7:30 PM ET; Pistons visit the Knicks on Tuesday, October 27 at 8:00 PM ET.