Originally published Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 12:00 AM

NBA Playoffs | Who's tired? Celtics beat Pistons to stay perfect at home

The Boston Celtics were supposed to be tired after going seven games in both of their previous playoff series. The Detroit Pistons were...

By Gannett News Service

PREV of NEXT

ELSA / GETTY IMAGES

Boston's Paul Pierce goes to the hoop against Detroit's Rasheed Wallace in Game 1 Tuesday night.

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics were supposed to be tired after going seven games in both of their previous playoff series.

The Detroit Pistons were supposed to be fresh, coming off six days of rest and a five-game series against Orlando.

For a game, rhythm beat rest.

Feeding off the energy provided by a boisterous crowd at TD Banknorth Garden, the Celtics — playing two days after vanquishing the Cleveland Cavaliers — continued their home-court mastery and defeated Detroit 88-79 Tuesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Boston is 9-0 at home in the playoffs.

The usual suspects carried Boston to victory. Do-it-all forward Kevin Garnett scored 26 points, collected nine rebounds and delivered four assists. Paul Pierce contributed 22 points, and Rajon Rondo had 11. However, former Sonic Ray Allen scored nine.

"I thought we had a lot of energy," Garnett said. "But we've got to go, man. That's what you have to do. You have to suck it up and play. I thought tonight we had good energy."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers deftly went deeper into his bench early than previous games. P.J. Brown, James Posey, Leon Powe and Eddie House played valuable minutes.

Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups, who played for the first time after missing the final two games of the Orlando series, struggled.

"They haven't lost a game; they should be confident," said Billups. "They have been very good here at home. We are usually a really good team; we didn't have a good game today, but we look forward to Thursday."

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