Billups Leads Pistons To Defeat Celtics In Boston 87-85

“The Win Streak” is over at the “New Garden” as?the Boston Celtics were defeated for the first time this season on their home turf, succumbing to ?the Detroit Piston Wednesday in a defensive battle 87-85. Former first round Boston draft pick Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups, had a game high 28 points. Billups was chosen with the third pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, only to be traded 51 games into the season to the Toronto Raptors. Wednesday night may have been just that much sweeter for Chauncey,?being a member of the team that halted Boston’s streak at 12-0.

Ray Allen was back in the starting lineup for the men in green, and had a nice return scoring 24 points, but small forward Paul Pierce had a tough night scoring shooting 5-16 from the floor, 0-4 from outside the arc, and just 1-3 at the line for a disappointing 11 points.

Boston dominated the first half leading 29-25 after the first quarter, and 52-45 at the half. But Detroit increased their defensive pressure big time in the second half, as they scored just 33 points in the final two quarters, just 13 points in the third period.

Billups was smooth as silk, 8-17 from the floor, hitting 2-5 treys, and 10-11 from the line, for the game high 28 points, as well as a game high 8 assists, 1 steal 1 rebound. Richard Hamilton scored 21 points, 2 boards, 1 assist, Antonio McDyess had a double-double 13 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. And Rasheed Wallace was just 1 point shy of a double-double with 9 points, and a game high 13 rebounds.

The “Big Ticket” Kevin Garnett did have a double-double 26 points, 12 boards, 2 steals, 1 assist, Allen had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, to go along with his 24 points. Pierce added 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 assist, and Rajon Rondo had another nice night, 14 points, a team high 7 assists, 3 steals, and 3 boards, in the loss. Detroit improves to 18-7, while Boston still has a league best record of 20-3.