Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics host the conference rival Detroit Pistons as they continue to search for their first win of the season in the home opener at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Friday at TD Garden in Boston, MA (TV/Radio: CSNNE/WEEI).
Boston (0-3) is coming off three consecutive losses to open the season, with the Celtics most recently losing to the new-look New Orleans Hornets, 97-78, in the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday night. Ray Allen had 15 points and Rajon Rondo finished with 13 points and six assists for Boston, which made 29-of-78 baskets to shoot 37.2 percent.
Detroit (0-2) is also winless on the season, having dropped its first two games. In their most recent loss, the Pistons were defeated by the Cleveland Cavaliers, 105-89, on Wednesday. Ben Gordon paced the Pistons with 25 points and four assists while rookie Brandon Knight had 23 points and six assists off the bench. Detroit shot 44.4 percent in defeat.
The Celtics and Pistons met four times last year in the regular season, with the Celtics winning three of the four games. Boston won 109-86 in the first meeting in November behind 22 points from Garnett and 17 assists from Rajon Rondo, but the C's were defeated 104-92 in the next meeting on December 29 despite 33 points from C's captain Paul Pierce. In the final two meetings, the Celtics posted an 86-82 win on Jan. 19 (Pierce had 22 points and Shaquille O'Neal had 12 rebounds) and won 101-90 on April 3 thanks to a 23-points, eight-rebound game from Garnett.
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