BOSTON – The Pistons are back to their old mainstays and back to their old, winning ways.

Richard “Rip” Hamilton had 25 points, Tayshaun Prince scored 15 and each hit a 3-pointer in the final 80 seconds to help the Pistons beat the Celtics yesterday. Hamilton also had nine assists in his second straight start since Allen Iverson returned to Detroit because of a stiff back.

“You can tell they’re playing the system they played before Iverson got there,” said Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who scored 26.

Detroit had lost five straight regular season games to the Celtics – 9-of-11 including a six-game Eastern Conference final that sent Boston on its way to a record 17th NBA title.

Ex-Knick Stephon Marbury was scoreless for the Celtics on three shots with four fouls over 12 minutes.

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