Reserve Tony Allen scored a team-high 23 points Sunday to lead the Boston Celtics' surprisingly easy 88-76 win over Detroit.
The Celtics were down 19-17 after the first quarter but used a 30-10 second-quarter charged to take a 47-29 halftime advantage, and Detroit barely threatened in the final 24 minutes.
Allen scored 10 points in the surge, and his layup with 14 seconds left led to the big halftime bulge.
Boston veteran guard Ray Allen had 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Rajon Rondo scored 13 points with five assists, and Kevin Garnett added eight points with 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who have won six of their first seven games to start their defense of the NBA championship.
Detroit was led by 23 points and eight rebounds for Tayshaun Prince. Will Bynum scored 11, while both Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace scored 10 points in the Pistons' second straight loss since Iverson came from Denver in the Chauncey Billups trade last week.
Iverson added four rebounds and four assists and Wallace had 11 rebounds.
