Two nights after finishing off Cleveland with a 41-point game, Paul Pierce scored 22 points to give Boston a 1-0 lead over Detroit.

If Paul Pierce was tired from his phenomenal Game 7 performance, his play in the first game of the Eastern Conference finals didn’t show it. The Truth put up 22 points, while grabbing six rebounds and handing out six assists in Boston’s 88-79 win over Detroit.

After the grueling series against Cleveland, Pierce felt surprisingly good.

“Actually coming to the game tonight before the game, I felt pretty good,” Pierce said. “I was able to get some rest, sit in the hot tub, ice down, and I didn’t think I would feel this way before the game, especially after that Game 7 because I thought my body was just totally gone that night and all day the next day.”

Tayshaun Prince, continuing his great end-to-end play in the playoffs, led Detroit with a team-high 16 points. Detroit will try to steal a road win in Game 2 on Thursday night.