Boston, MA -- (Sports Network) - Rajon Rondo had 18 points and doled out eight assists to help the Celtics to a 98-80 victory over the Pistons in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals.

Kevin Garnett added 15 points in his return from a one-game suspension for hitting Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut during Boston's 102-97 overtime win on Saturday. Tony Allen chipped in 13 points and Ray Allen 12 for Boston, which has won three in a row.

"The overall effort was there. This is a huge game for us," said Garnett. "This is probably one of the better teams, not only in the Eastern Conference, but in our league. It's a team we might see later on so the more the merrier."

Allen Iverson scored 16 points and had four assists for the Pistons, who have dropped two of three. Rasheed Wallace had 13 points and Richard Hamilton 12 in defeat.

"We had a tough schedule, but that's no excuse," said Hamilton. "They've convincingly beaten us two times, once home and once here. So we've got to be a lot better. Anytime you play against tough teams, all the little stuff that you don't do against the bad teams, you can't get away with playing against the good teams. So this tells us we've got a lot of work to do."

The teams played to a 21-21 tie after the first quarter, and Boston led 49-40 at the half.

The Celts opened a 13-point lead as Paul Pierce hit two free throws and Garnett added a layup. Though a Kwame Brown free throw brought Detroit within 59-48 with 8:16 left in the third.

Boston outscored the visitors 16-4 over the next 5:19 to assume a 75-52 lead. Rondo and Garnett accounted for the first nine and 11 total points on the surge.

The Pistons found themselves down by 20, 77-57, heading into the final 12 minutes.

Glen Davis poured in a layup, Gabe Pruitt nailed a jumper and Eddie House drained a three to open the fourth quarter, and the Celts were up 84-57 with 8:44 left in regulation.

Game Notes:

The Pistons fell to 5-3 on the road...The Celtics are 7-1 as the host this season and also handed Detroit an 88-76 setback on November 9 at The Palace of Auburn Hills...Boston has won four straight in this series, but the Pistons are 14-5 in the previous 19 matchups...Detroit had won seven of nine trips to Beantown.