For the first time in the postseason, the Boston trio of Allen, Garnett, and Pierce each scored 20 points. And for the first time this postseason, the Celtics lost at home. They've lost all six road games so far, and will need at least one at the Palace if they want to beat Detroit.

Splitting the first two games of a series is natural for most Conference Finals. The 2000 67-win Lakers split their first two games against the Blazers, then won back-to-back games in Portland. But for the Celtics, splitting the first two means a little bit more. It means they'll have to do something they haven't done in over a month: win on the road.

Still, there's no reason for the Celtics to worry. Ray Allen finally broke out of his horrid slump and scored 25 the other night. Sam Cassell is sure to make a reappearance, though it will be the kiss of death for Tony Allen. They were the best road team in the regular season, and won in Utah, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Detroit. This entire season has been a celebration of the Celtics' reemergence; now they have two games to prove it wasn't just a puff of smoke. If LeBron James can single-handedly beat the Pistons, the Big 3 should be able to do it too.