Joe Mazzulla Sees One Major Problem in Celtics' Season-Opening Loss to Pistons originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Celtics will need to regroup after losing the first game of the 2026-27 season against the Pistons, 121-113.
Boston came into the season with a new-look lineup. They traded Jaylen Brown and got Paul George in return. George looked exceptional, scoring 38 and breaking a record for most posts in a Celtics debut.
Despite that bright spot, the team had early concerns. Jayson Tatum scored 13 points in 38 minutes. He went 6-23 FG. Three Pistons scored 20+ points, while Javonte Green had 19.
Speaking after the game, coach Joe Mazzulla broke down the key reasons for the Celtics’ loss. He highlighted the Pistons' ability to go on runs after taking advantage of key mistakes.
"I think some of our empty offensive possessions led to their transition points, whether it was and-ones, transition threes by Green and Robinson," Mazzulla told Bobby Krivitsky. "So you take a look at that. Those opportunities to where we come up empty, whether it's a poor rim-read, whether it's we miss the read, and they take advantage of it in transition. I'd say that one.
"And then just some of the details: fouling jump shooters a couple times at the end of quarters. But to your point, you know, could we quickly bounce back? It was one of those games where there was a bunch of different types of momentum runs. We controlled those types of runs in the first half, middle of the third quarter, and then they had two big ones that we just couldn't get out of, and that's kind of what we'll focus on."
Outside George, key contributors for the Celtics were Derrick White, who scored 17 points and went 7-13 FG, as well as Payton Pritchard, who also scored 17 and went 4-9 FG.
The Celtics look to rebound quickly against the Knicks, the defending champions, on Friday night.