BOSTON -- The Detroit Pistons, demonstrating the defense that made them the NBA's best team, put the Boston Celtics out of their misery Tuesday night with a 100-85 victory and a sweep of their opening-round NBA playoff series.
Vinnie Johnson came off the bench to score 25 points to lead the Pistons, who limited Boston to just 33 percent shooting in the second half.
Boston had not lost a first-round playoff series since 1956. The Celtics have been swept in a playoff series only three times in the franchise's 42-year history.
'We knew we were the best team,' Detroit center Bill Laimbeer said. 'And we wanted to get it over with quickly.'
Joe Dumars added 24 points for the Pistons, who advanced to play the winner of the Milwaukee-Atlanta series.
Boston held a 55-51 halftime lead, but scored only 12 points in the fourth quarter and 30 points in the second half. The Celtics hit only 12 of 36 field-goal attempts after halftime.
'Some of our shortcomings we had problems with all year,' Boston's Kevin McHale said. 'And they showed up in the fourth quarter. We just couldn't sustain an offense.'
Boston, which went 42-40 during the regular season, had their worst year since Larry Bird joined the team in 1979.
'It felt like the longest year, that's for sure,' McHale said. 'It felt like 190 games. It wasn't very much fun.'
Bird, on the playoff roster despite still recovering from November surgery on both heels, did not dress for the game. Boston had only 10 players in uniform, as guard Kevin Gamble also did not play because of a pulled groin muscle.
Boston led 73-71 after three quarters, but connected on only 4 of 17 shots from the floor in the fourth period. The Celtics also had struggled offensively at the end of Game 2, failing to hit a field goal in the final seven minutes.
Boston led 77-73 with 9:42 remaining after a McHale jumper, but Detroit took the lead for good with a 10-0 surge, with five Pistons hitting baskets as Detroit began to utilize its fast break. John Salley scored the go-ahead basket by laying in a rebound with 7:50 left for a 79-77 lead.
Boston went scoreless over a 4:18 stretch until Reggie Lewis' 3-point play with 5:24 left pulled them within 83-80.
The Pistons led 88-83 with 3:27 remaining and scored 12 of the final 14 points as the Celtics resorted to trying 3-pointers in the final two minutes.
Boston could not control the explosive Johnson, who hit a variety of medium- and long-range jumpers.
'I feel good when I come to Boston,' Johnson said. 'I don't know what it is, but I like playing in the Garden. I always have pretty good games.'
Detroit's Isiah Thomas was scoreless for the first three quarters and finished with just 3 points, hitting only 1 of 9 shots from the floor.
Lewis scored 20 points to lead Boston, while McHale finished with 17 and Brian Shaw added 15. Center Robert Parish scored just 4 points, hitting only 2 of 12 shots.
The Celtics led 73-71 after three quarters, both teams playing strong defense in the third quarter.
Boston built a 55-51 halftime lead after the score was tied10 times in the first 21 minutes. Detroit led 45-41 after a pair of baskets by Johnson, but Boston responded with an 8-0 surge, capped by Shaw's fast-break layup with 2:06 remaining.
Boston has played five playoff series against the Pistons and lost Game 3 each time.
'We came in prepared to take of business,' Dumars said. 'We saw them do it to us and a lot of other teams before. Now we just wanted to get it done against them.'
