Iverson's Pistons fall again 

The Boston Celtics held Allen Iverson to just 10 points in his first home game with the Detroit Pistons and cruised to an 88-76 victory on Sunday.

Reserve guard Tony Allen scored 23 points to spark the NBA champions in their first meeting this season with Eastern Conference contender Detroit.

Allen scored 12 points in the second period when Boston (6-1) out-scored Detroit 30-10 to take command of the game.

"I just took advantage of what the defence gave me," Allen told reporters. "Coach said, 'just attack', and that's what I did."

Boston coach Doc Rivers said the Celtics played their best defence of the season. He also praised his bench players.

"Our bench has been phenomenal," Rivers said. "The last three or four games, our bench has been the reason we won. They do all of the little things that as a group make them a good group.

"There's no one guy who can carry them, but when they played the way they've played, it makes them a very good basketball team."

Iverson, who was traded to Detroit by Denver last week, made only four of 11 shots and finished well below his career scoring average of 27.7 points.

"Obviously it's going to take time because it's a different look, a different flow," Iverson said.

"I think I'm a totally different player than what they're used to playing with. We're just going to have to get used to each other."

Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons (4-2) with 23 points.

Boston's defence held Detroit without a field goal the final 7:33 of the first half turning the crowd's cheers for Iverson into boos for the Pistons.

By halftime, the Celtics, who led by only three before the Detroit drought, had an 18-point lead.

The margin eventually grew to 22 as Iverson scored only two points after the break.

"We got to find a way to get something going in that second quarter when we take our scoring big out, which is Rasheed (Wallace)," Pistons coach Michael Curry said.

"When we take him out, we've got to find way to get things going with our other guys."

Wallace finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Ray Allen added 17 points and Rajon Rondo had 13 for the Celtics.