Celtics beat up on Pistons, 88-76

The last time the Celtics played in Auburn Hills, they left as Eastern Conference champions. Tonight, they played like it. Using a 30-10 2nd quarter thumping, the Celtics took charge, and spoiled Allen Iverson's home debut, 88-76. Tony Allen was terrific, pouring in 23 points and adding 5 rebounds, offsetting a poor shooting night from Pierce (7 points on 3-10 shooting) and Garnett (8 points on 4-15 shooting). In all, only 3 Celtics scored in double-figures. As has been the story this season, defense was the key, as the C's held Detroit to 34% shooting, including a combined 8-for-36 from Iverson, Richard Hamilton, and Rasheed Wallace. But the story of the night was Allen, who, as I predicted a few weeks back, will make people forget why they were concerned with the loss of James Posey. Sunday night was a good start to that prediction. Click here for the Box Score. (AUBURN%20HILLS,%20MI%20-%20NOVEMBER%209:%20Kevin%20Garnett%20#5%20of%20the%20Boston%20Celtics%20holds%20one%20finger%20in%20the%20air%20during%20a%20game%20against%20the%20Detroit%20Pistons%20on%20November%209,%202008%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Auburn%20Hills%20in%20Auburn%20Hills,%20Michigan.%20NOTE%20TO%20USER:%20User%20expressly%20acknowledges%20and%20agrees%20that,%20by%20downloading%20and/or%20using%20this%20photograph,%20User%20is%20consenting%20to%20the%20terms%20and%20conditions%20of%20the%20Getty%20Images%20License%20Agreement.%20Mandatory%20Copyright%20Notice:%20Copyright%202008%20NBAE%20%28Photo%20by%20Allen%20Einstein/NBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29)