Bird Drops 33, as C's Down Pistons

October 27, 1984

CELTICS TOP PISTONS AS BIRD SCORES 33

Larry Bird scored 8 points in the final 1 minute 56 seconds to help the Boston Celtics defeat the Detroit Pistons, 130-123, tonight.

A crowd of 27,563 saw the game at the Silverdome, the largest opening night crowd in the Pistons' history, as the National Basketball Association opened its 39th season.



Kevin McHale's off-balance 10-foot base-line shot with 4:07 left gave the Celtics a 119-116 lead but Isiah Thomas scored on a steal with 3:37 to play to pull Detroit within a point.

Bird hit a layup with 1:56 to play, a pair of free throws with 1:20 left that made it 123-118, a 15-foot baseline shot and a short shot with 33 seconds left.

Thomas scored a game-high 35 points, including the last 7 for Detroit.

Afterward, Bird, last year's most valuable player, suggested that the Celtics' greater experience under fire was the difference in the game.

"There were no question marks in our minds," said Bird. "We're the defending champs and we came in here with the attitude that we were going to win this game."

"We did the things we had to do down the stretch to win the game," said Bird. "We played hard, played good defense and scored when we needed the points."

The Pistons led, 112-110, on a basket by Thomas with 6:29 to play but Robert Parish, who had 25 points, and Quinn Buckner scored consecutive baskets to put the Celtics ahead. A 3-point play by Dennis Johnson with 4:37 left put Boston in front for good.

Johnson, who had 29 points over all, scored 13 points in the third quarter to help give the Celtics a 98-94 lead.

Bill Laimbeer scored 4 points in the last three seconds of the second quarter to keep Detroit within a point at halftime, 64-63. Laimbeer made a free throw with three seconds left, stole a pass and fired in a 3-pointer at the buzzer.