DETROIT — Before the Celtics and Pistons opened the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Detroit superstar Cade Cunningham walked to midcourt, grabbed a microphone, and addressed the crowd.
“The NBA wanted to start the league in Detroit this season,” Cunningham said. “Let’s start it off right.”
Anticipation swelled before it quickly evaporated, with the Celtics racing to a 22-point, third-quarter lead behind the scorching shooting of 36-year-old Paul George. Coach Joe Mazzulla has said several times over the past few weeks that he wanted to see how his team responded when things were not running so smoothly. Then he got his first look in real time.
After the Celtics’ big lead was trimmed to 10 early in the fourth quarter, they surrendered an unfathomable 23-0 run and started the season with a 121-113 loss that will ignite early questions about this team.
The Pistons’ comeback was the largest of the first day of a season since at least 1997-98.
George made 7 of 12 3-pointers and had 38 points, a franchise record for a debut. But Jayson Tatum struggled, going 6 for 23 from the field and 0 for 7 from the 3-point line, and had 13 points and 11 assists.
The Pistons’ comeback was sparked by New Hampshire native Duncan Robinson (21 points) and former Celtics wing Javonte Green (19), who combined to go 10 for 17 from the 3-point line.
After a Daniss Jenkins 3-pointer gave the Pistons a 39-35 lead, their largest of the half, Boston’s defense bottled them up. Over a six-minute scoreless stretch, the Pistons went 0 for 8 from the field and committed four turnovers.
At the other end, George shrugged off skeptics who believe he is no longer a fearsome offensive option. The forward scored 8 points during a 51-second stretch, including two 3-pointers, helping the Celtics open the 58-45 lead they took to halftime. George had 17 points in the half.
Early in the third, George somehow outdid his sparkling second-quarter burst. He hit three 3-pointers over a 52-second span, including an off-balance attempt from the top of the key, and a dart from the left arc that elicited audible gasps in the arena. That shot gave the Celtics a 72-50 lead.
In need of a spark, the Pistons turned to an unlikely source in Green. The defensive-minded veteran checked in and hit three 3-pointers to spark a 32-13 burst that pulled Detroit within 88-82 at the start of the fourth.
After the Celtics stretched their lead back to 10, Robinson hit a pair of 3-pointers before he was fouled on an attempt for the second time in the quarter. Those free throws capped a personal 9-0 run and pulled the Pistons within 99-98 with 7:07 left. But that, it turned out, was just the start.
Two more Green 3-pointers book-ended another Robinson three, with Detroit racing to a 112-99 lead. Boston made a final push and cut the deficit to 114-110 with a George 3-pointer, but Ausar Thompson answered with a basket in the paint, and the Celtics’ season started with a loss.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at [adam.himmelsbach@globe.com](mailto:adam.himmelsbach@globe.com). Follow him [@adamhimmelsbach](https://www.twitter.com/adamhimmelsbach).