BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Celtics were dealt the worst loss in their history Friday night, falling behind the Detroit Pistons by as many as 60 before scoring the final eight points of the game in a 118-66 loss. The previous worst loss in team history came in the second game this season, a 45-point margin in a 114-69 loss to Washington. Richard Hamilton scored 29 points for the Pistons, who led 71-51 with 4:05 left in the third quarter before going on a 35-2 run that gave them twice as many points as Boston -- 106-53 midway through the fourth quarter. The crowd turned on the Celtics and cheered nearly every Pistons basket for most of the final period. Their biggest lead was 118-58 on a 3-pointer by Tayshaun Prince with 2:44 left. The Pistons scored the last five points of the first quarter, the last 11 in the second and the last 15 in the third, making it 86-51. Detroit, which has allowed the fewest points in the NBA, gave up only 15 in the fourth quarter. Any chance for a Celtics comeback ended when Paul Pierce was ejected with 1:36 left in the third quarter when he picked up two technical fouls for yelling at referee Gary Benson from the bench. The score was 78-51 when Pierce left, and Detroit scored the last eight points of the quarter on two free throws each by Hamilton and Corliss Williamson and a layup by each of them. Chauncey Billups scored 24 for Detroit and hit all eight of his first-half shots. Boston was led by Pierce with 23 points and J.R. Bremer with 10. Antoine Walker returned after missing four games with a sprained right knee but scored only six points on 1-for-15 shooting. The Celtics made only 23 of 79 shots, 29.9 percent, while the Pistons sank 41 of 79 for 51.9 percent. Boston just missed scoring its fewest points since the 24-second clock was adopted. The record is 62 on Feb 27, 1955 against Milwaukee. Detroit's first double-figure lead came with just 5:59 gone in the game on a 3-pointer by Billups that made it 17-6. Boston closed to 19-16, but the Pistons led 32-20 after one quarter. Detroit led by at least 10 points throughout the second quarter and opened a 61-34 halftime lead.
That loss is just embarrasing. Im sorry. They got there tailskicked. I think that will be a wake up call to the Celtics.
The Pistons had one of their best games last night. I watched the game. They played excellant offense and defense.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "aTTiCuS":</div><div class="quote_post">Ive never seen such an up and down team in any sport.</div> I agree. On some nights they can beat any team and on others they can get killed by the worst team in the league.
Walker 1-15, obviously he's not ready to be on the court. Losing by 52 on your homecourt should never happen. Jim O'brien has been furious ever since the Celtics traded for Vin Baker and didn't re-sign Rodney Rogers. He doesn't have the players he needs to play his style and the Celtics will continue to struggle. It will be interesting to see how the Celtics respond after this embarrassment.
