Rajon Rondo dished out 17 assists to set an NBA record and Kevin Garnett scored 22 points as the Boston Celtics took down the host Detroit Pistons, 109-86, on Tuesday.

Paul Pierce added 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting and Ray Allen chipped in 16 for the Celtics, who shot 52 percent (42-of-81) from the floor and 18-of-18 from the line.

Rondo has 67 assists through the first four games of the season, breaking the NBA record of 65 shared by Magic Johnson and John Stockton.

Boston grabbed control from the start, jumping out to a 16-5 lead after the first five minutes and never trailing thereafter. Garnett had 10 of the Celtics’ 31 points in the opening quarter and Allen had seven in the second to provide a 57-44 lead at the break.

Boston pushed the lead to 70-50 on two free throws by Pierce with 7:13 left in the third period and did not allow Detroit to get it within single digits the rest of the way.

Jermaine O’Neal started at center in place of the injured Shaquille O’Neal and finished with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 21 minutes.