DETROIT — Joe Mazzulla knew rebounding would be a weakness in the preseason, when the Celtics were pounded on the boards by opposing team’s second and third units. And the inability to rebound cost the Celtics again Sunday at Little Caesars Arena, when they couldn’t grab a rebound on several possessions after getting a defensive stop.
The result was a 119-113 loss, their third in a row to begin the season, as the Celtics yielded 18 offensive rebounds and 30 second-chance points.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 25 points but the standout was center Jalen Duren, who crushed the Celtics on the glass and in the paint with 24 points and 17 rebounds. Meanwhile, counterpart Neemias Queta finished with 4 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 41 points and the Celtics made more field goals (40-39) and shot a better percentage (42.6-42.4) but committed several key fouls in the bonus.
The rebounding edge in Detroit’s favor was 54-18.
The Pistons attempted 36 free throws to the Celtics’ 24. And in the first three games, the opponents have attempted 91 free throws.
Payton Pritchard tallied 21 points but the 6-foot-1-inch guard was also the Celtics’ leading rebounder with 10, a testament to their struggles.
Boston’s inability to rebound or defend Duren in the paint prompted Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff to repeatedly go to him in the second half. And it resulted in four trips to the free throw line in five possessions that surrounded a Duren alley-oop dunk. After that flurry, the Celtics trailed 88-74 and had little means of rallying.
Brown was the lone Celtic to respond to Detroit’s defensive pressure, scoring 34 points through three quarters, including five 3-pointers.
The Celtics led by as many as 17 points in a spirited first quarter but suddenly the momentum stopped. The Pistons’ defense became more aggressive, shots stopped falling and the lead was lost in the second period.
A three-game road trip concludes Monday night in New Orleans against the Pelicans, who are also winless at 0-2.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.
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