The Boston Celtics maintained their winning streak with a hard-fought victory against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night, achieving a notable milestone in NBA history.
The Celtics came out strong, scoring 42 points in the first quarter, marking the third consecutive game in which they surpassed 30 points in that period. Their impressive start has placed them in the record books for first-quarter scoring.
According to Boston’s statistics expert Dick Lipe, the team has now set a record for the highest number of first quarter points over the first three games of the NBA season with a total of 118 points. This translates to an average of 39.3 points in the opening quarter.
This record surpasses the previous benchmarks set by the 1991-92 Golden State Warriors with 114 points and the 2013-14 Minnesota Timberwolves with 112 points during their first three games.
However, the Celtics’ remarkable scoring pace diminished after the first quarter. They allowed a 23-point lead to slip away against the Pistons but managed to secure a 124-118 win after a late-game rally. In the second half, the Celtics struggled, shooting just 35.9 percent and scoring a total of 51 points, which was only nine points more than their first-quarter performance.
Currently, Boston boasts the highest scoring efficiency in the league and is one of only three unbeaten teams in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics will face a tough challenge on Monday night when they host the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden.