The Detroit Pistons traveled to Boston without three of their big men, but rookie forward Saddiq Bey pulled in a big way.
Bey scored 30 points, the most in his short career, and sank all seven of his three-point attempts Friday in a 108-102 victory over the Celtics at TD Garden.
Bey set a team’s rookie record for three-pointers scored in a game. He is only the fourth Pistons rookie to score 30 or more points in a game in the last 35 years.
Bey also led the team with 12 rebounds, which was important because the Pistons, in the second game of a rugby player, were missing the injured centers Mason Plumlee and Jahlil Okafor as well as forward Sekou Doumbouya.
The Pistons (7-19) are 2-1 this season against the Celtics (13-12).
Detroit started slowly as the Celtics took a 12-2 lead early on. It looked like the Pistons were going to have an unfortunate night, as two of their three-point shot attempts rattled out of the basket. Rookie center Isaiah Stewart also committed two early fouls, forcing the Pistons to turn to their bench early.
They sent in young veteran Josh Jackson, who gave them a defensive spark that made the Pistons claw back. Jackson dropped eight points in his first ten minutes by driving aggressively into the paint. He scored 2-of-4 overall, but his aggressive playing style was rewarded with five trips to the free-throw line. He made four of his five free throw attempts and ended the evening with 14 points, five rebounds, two blocks and one steal.
Bey was not the only player to give an offensive spark. For the fourth time this season, Delon Wright passes the 20-point threshold, all facing some of the league’s top teams. Wright scored 22 points after scoring just six points the night before in the Pistons defeat to the Indiana Pacers.
Wright also pulled off six rebounds and put out seven assists. The veteran was another player who was disruptive to the Celtics and ended the evening with one block and one steal.
Blake Griffin, who played for the first time in a row this season, scored 12 points, six assists and four rebounds. Jerami Grant added 15 points and five boards.
The Pistons return to Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, when they host the New Orleans Pelicans with Zion Williamson and former Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy.