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Sports

Pistons pump in fourth quarter to upset Celtics

By Reuters
Published | Updated

Toronto, Canada – DETROIT (Reuters) - The Detroit Pistons dominated the fourth quarter to upset the Boston Celtics 92-86 on Wednesday, Rodney Stuckey leading the assault with 27 points and 11 rebounds.

The third-year point guard also added six assists while forward Charlie Villanueva scored 10 of his 19 in the decisive final session to help the Pistons pull away.

During the spell, Detroit (15-26) scored 13 straight points to turn a five-point deficit into a 84-76 edge with less than four minutes remaining.

"I wanted to win this game very badly, it's a good way to start this homestand," Villanueva told reporters after his team captured the first of six successive games in Detroit.

"I was just into the game, trash talking a little bit. I was fired up."

Rasheed Wallace scored 16 points and had seven rebounds for the visitors but his return to Detroit was not a winning one as the Celtics (27-13) lost a third straight game.

Wallace joined the Pistons in 2004 when he helped lead the team to an NBA championship but departed to join Boston as a free agent last July.

"I was excited to see Rasheed but I'm excited for every game," Pistons coach John Kuester told reporters.

"I think the players enjoy playing quality teams like Boston but I think they understand that we're in a stage now where we just have to work hard."

Nothing came easy for Boston as the team struggled on 43 percent shooting and committed 18 turnovers.

Playing in his second game since missing three straight with a sore foot, Wallace tried in vain to help the Celtics withstand the continued absence of Kevin Garnett.

Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo scored 21 points each for Boston, who led 56-48 at halftime lead before Detroit made a second-half charge.

The Celtics recovered and trailed 88-84 before Richard Hamilton added a jumper and two free throws.

The Pistons have won four of five since a brutal 13-game losing streak.

Dealing with an inconsistent lineup due to injuries, the home team played without Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon and Will Bynum.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles: Editing by John O'Brien)