The last time the Celtics played in Auburn Hills, they left as Eastern Conference champions. Tonight, they played like it. Using a 30-10 2nd quarter thumping, the Celtics took charge, and spoiled Allen Iverson's home debut, 88-76. Tony Allen was terrific, pouring in 23 points and adding 5 rebounds, offsetting a poor shooting night from Pierce (7 points on 3-10 shooting) and Garnett (8 points on 4-15 shooting). In all, only 3 Celtics scored in double-figures. As has been the story this season, defense was the key, as the C's held Detroit to 34% shooting, including a combined 8-for-36 from Iverson, Richard Hamilton, and Rasheed Wallace. But the story of the night was Allen, who, as I predicted a few weeks back, will make people forget why they were concerned with the loss of James Posey. Sunday night was a good start to that prediction.

Click here for the Box Score.