Javonte Green scores 19 in the second half as the Pistons erase a 22-point deficit to beat the Celtics

The first game of the 2026-27 NBA season produced the night’s most unexpected star. Javonte Green came off the Detroit bench in the second half and scored 19 points to lead the Pistons back from a 22-point deficit to a 121-113 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Little Caesars Arena. His name drew more than 200,000 US searches overnight, according to Google Trends, alongside “Pistons vs Celtics,” “Duncan Robinson” and “Celtics score.”

Javonte Green’s stat line

According to NBC Sports, Green played 17 minutes, 49 seconds and finished with:

19 points on 5-of-10 shooting
5-of-8 from three-point range
4-of-4 from the free-throw line
4 rebounds

All 19 of his points came after halftime: 11 in the third quarter and eight in the fourth, NBC Sports reported. NBA.com’s live coverage noted he was a +21 at one stage of the fourth quarter.

How the Pistons came back

Boston controlled the first half. The Celtics led 58-45 at the break and pushed the lead to 72-52 early in the third quarter, a margin that reached 22 points, as Paul George hit three straight three-pointers. NBA.com reported George set a record for the most points by a Celtic in his team debut.

That’s when Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff turned to Green, a former Celtic, to add “athleticism and hustle on the wing,” as NBA.com put it. His corner three capped a 19-6 run, and two more threes cut Boston’s lead to 81-77 late in the third. Detroit won the quarter 37-30.

The fourth quarter belonged to Duncan Robinson. With about six minutes left, Robinson found Green for a three that gave Detroit its first lead since early in the game. The Pistons then pulled away with an 18-0 run, and Robinson finished with 21 points, 15 of them in the fourth quarter, according to NBA.com.

Boston made one last push, an 11-2 run that cut the gap to 114-110 with about a minute left, but Detroit held on.

Pistons vs. Celtics: key player stats

Paul George (BOS): 38 points
Duncan Robinson (DET): 21 points, five 3-pointers
Javonte Green (DET): 19 points, all in the second half, five 3-pointers
Cade Cunningham (DET): 16 points
Jayson Tatum (BOS): 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting, 11 assists

Detroit out-rebounded Boston 59-45, held a 44-34 edge in points in the paint and shot 11-of-22 from three in the second half, NBA.com reported.

“We had a good talk at halftime, and we lit that fire a little bit better,” Cunningham said.

A historic opening-night rally

NBA.com called it the largest opening-day comeback in 30 years. The last team to rally from 20 or more points down on opening day was the Celtics themselves, who did it in 1997 against the eventual champion Chicago Bulls, according to the same report.

Starting lineups and what changed in Boston

Many searchers were looking for starting lineups. NBA.com reported that Boston started newcomer Mitchell Robinson at center and brought Neemias Queta off the bench, while Detroit started both Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II. NBA.com framed the night as Boston adjusting to a more balanced attack without Jaylen Brown, now with Philadelphia; Tatum finished with 11 assists and George with 38 points.

What it means for Green

One game is a small sample, and Green’s minutes were limited. But his second-half run gave Bickerstaff an option off the bench.

FAQ

Who won Pistons vs. Celtics? Detroit, 121-113.

How many points did Javonte Green score? 19, all in the second half, in under 18 minutes.

How big was the comeback? The Pistons trailed by as many as 22 points.

Who led Boston? Paul George with 38 points.