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Pistons stun Celtics

Sports · Heat 1.5 / 10 · 4 shows · 36m airtime

The Pistons beat the Celtics 121-113 on October 21, 2026, closing on a 23-0 fourth-quarter run, the largest opening-day comeback in the play-by-play era since 1997-98. Paul George scored 38 points on 21 shots; Jayson Tatum shot 6 of 23 and 0 of 7 from three. J.B. Bickerstaff credited Ausar Thompson, who signed a deal worth about $150 million, for slowing Tatum, and Detroit's bench scored 39, including 19 second-half points from Devontae Green, who did not play in the first half. Mitchell Robinson had one offensive rebound in 18 minutes in his first game as a Celtic and turned an ankle early, while Detroit attempted 40 threes, something it did only seven times all of last season.

How 4 podcasts covered it

  1. Nightcap, 2026-10-21 (57:59 to 1:03:02)
    Breaks down Detroit's 23-0 fourth-quarter run
    Breaks down Detroit's 23-0 fourth-quarter run and the largest opening-day comeback since 1997-98, crediting Paul George's 38 points and questioning Jayson Tatum's 6-of-23 night.
    New angle: Detroit's 23-0 fourth-quarter run was the largest opening-day comeback in the play-by-play era since 1997-98.
  2. Nightcap, 2026-10-21 (1:03:02 to 1:05:44)
    Breaks down Boston's collapse around Tatum
    Breaks down why Boston could not stay in it when Tatum shot 6 of 23: two starters combined for four points, Detroit won the glass, and the Celtics kept forcing quick threes. Analysis of the loss, not a new development in it.
  3. Nightcap, 2026-10-21 (1:05:56 to 1:09:27)
    Credits Detroit's supporting cast and Thompson's deal
    Turns to Detroit's supporting cast after the comeback: Duren's $278 million deal and regular-season production, and Ausar Thompson's defense on Tatum. Adds Bickerstaff's postgame credit to Thompson and Thompson's roughly $150 million contract.
    New angle: J.B. Bickerstaff credited Ausar Thompson for slowing Jayson Tatum; Thompson signed a deal worth about $150 million.
  4. Nightcap, 2026-10-21 (1:09:29 to 1:12:06)
    Adds Detroit's bench detail in the upset
    Runs through Detroit's supporting cast in the win over Boston: 39 bench points, Devontae Green's 19 in the second half after not playing before the break, Cade Cunningham's 22-4-8, and Duncan Robinson's make-or-sit shooting. Adds bench and role-player detail the card did not have.
    New angle: Detroit's bench scored 39, including 19 second-half points from Devontae Green, who did not play in the first half.
  5. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, 2026-10-21 (15:46 to 23:40)
    Adds the bench detail behind the comeback
    Recaps the Pistons' comeback through Paul George's record 38-point Celtics debut, then adds detail on the bench: Javante Green went 5 of 8 from three and hit the go-ahead shot in the 23-0 run, and Mitchell Robinson had one offensive rebound in 18 minutes in his Boston debut.
    New angle: Mitchell Robinson had one offensive rebound in 18 minutes in his first game as a Celtic and turned an ankle early.
  6. The Athletic NBA Daily, 2026-10-21 (27:42 to 38:46)
    Argues Detroit's three-point volume fuels the comeback
    Recaps the Pistons' 22-point comeback over Boston and works through Detroit's new three-point volume, arguing the shooting around Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren makes the lineup work. Notes the Pistons took 40 threes, something they did only seven times last season.
    New angle: The Pistons attempted 40 threes, something they did only seven times all of last season.
  7. The Rich Eisen Show, 2026-10-21 (24:15 to 26:54)
    Recaps the box score and hosts' reaction
    Recaps opening night through the Celtics-Pistons result: George's 38 points and seven threes, Tatum's 6-for-23, Detroit's third-quarter comeback. Stays inside the box score and the hosts' reaction, adding only that Detroit was the East's one seed last year.
Unpacking...