The Celtics extended their winning streak on Saturday night with a hard-fought victory against the Pistons in Detroit, while also making a bit of NBA history.
The Celtics came out strong, racking up 42 points in the first quarter, marking their third consecutive game with over 30 points in the opening period. This impressive scoring run at the start of the season has secured them a spot in the NBA record books for first quarter scoring.
As noted by Celtics statistician Dick Lipe, the team has achieved the highest total first quarter points through the first three games in NBA history, amassing 118 points. On average, the Celtics scored 39.3 points in the first quarter of these games.
This puts them ahead of the 1991-92 Warriors (114 points) and the 2013-14 Timberwolves (112 points) for the most first quarter points in the opening three games of a regular season.
However, the Celtics’ scoring pace slowed in the latter half of the game on Saturday, as they squandered a 23-point lead against the Pistons before securing a 124-118 victory. They shot only 35.9 percent in the second half, accumulating just 51 points, which was nine points more than their first quarter total.
Currently, the Celtics possess the highest scoring efficiency in the league, remaining one of only three undefeated teams in the Eastern Conference. They will face another challenge on Monday night when the Milwaukee Bucks visit TD Garden.