Robinson, Rondo lead Celtics to 105-100 victory over Pistons

Robinson leads Celtics to win over Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Nate Robinson scored 14 points in 16 minutes, Rajon Rondo added 15 points and 11 assists, and the Boston Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 105-100 on Tuesday night.

The Celtics, playing for the first time since a humiliating home loss to the NBA-worst New Jersey Nets on Saturday, got 18 points from Ray Allen.

Jonas Jerebko scored 16 points for Detroit, which lost its fourth straight.

Rasheed Wallace missed a short jumper that could have given the Celtics a 10-point lead early in the third quarter, and his former team quickly rallied to pull within three.

Detroit continued to come back and took a 75-72 lead into the fourth, but the Celtics regained the advantage in the opening minutes of the period.

Robinson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Boston up 89-81 with seven minutes left. The Pistons were within 95-90 with 1:13 remaining, but Ben Wallace missed a pair of free throws, then had to be helped off the floor with a right knee injury. Wallace is 2 for 20 from the free throw line in Detroit’s last five games.

Tayshaun Prince hit a 3-pointer — Detroit’s second in 18 attempts — but the Celtics clinched the game from the line.

NOTES: Paul Pierce returned after missing three games with a sprained thumb, but Kendrick Perkins (flu-like symptoms) missed the game. … Prince left late in the third quarter after badly twisting his left ankle, but returned midway through the fourth. … Jerebko, playing on his 23rd birthday, was the Eastern Conference’s rookie of the month for February. … Rondo reached double figures in assists for the seventh straight game, the longest streak by a Celtic since Tiny Archibald did it in seven straight games in 1981-82.