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Iverson, Pistons look to rebound as they host Celtics

Nov 9, 2008 - 7:20 AM Boston (5-1) at Detroit (4-1), 6:00pm EST

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- His first game with his new team may not have gone perfectly, but Allen Iverson gets a second chance to make a first impression on Sunday as he makes his home debut with the Detroit Pistons.

Fresh off their first loss of the season, the Pistons look to get back on track on Sunday when they host the reigning champion Boston Celtics.

Iverson collected 24 points and six assists in his Detroit debut on Friday, but it wasn't nearly enough to overcome Devin Harris and the New Jersey Nets, who came away with a 103-96 triumph. Things won't get any easier for the Pistons, who face a Celtics club that ousted them from the Eastern Conference Finals last season and won six of nine meetings overall.

Of course, that was before the deal that sent point-guard staple Chauncey Billups to Detroit in exchange for Iverson. The hope is that the four-time scoring champion can provide an element they have been lacking the last three seasons, all of which have ended the same way - falling just short of the NBA Finals.

The Pistons face a club that hasn't missed much of a beat. Known for their suffocating defense on their way to a title last summer, the Celtics are holding opponents to a league-low 38 percent shooting and just 88.5 points. The "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have continued to share the ball, with Pierce leading the way at 17.8 points per game. Garnett adds 15.7 and 9.7 boards.

Detroit fans will have just one day to get acclimated to their new superstar, as the Pistons will follow the game with a four-game, Western Conference road trip.