BOSTON -- Tony Delk still doesn't know his way around the city that has been his NBA home since February when he was shipped east by the Phoenix Suns in a trade-deadline deal.

"I've been lost the whole time I've been here," he said. "I don't go to too many places."

Navigating your way through the Big Dig and roaming out of the slow lane on the Mass Pike can frighten the most fearless out-of-town traveler. But for Delk, he finally found his way to the basket at the FleetCenter in this Eastern Conference semifinal series.

	Delk

And Delk didn't even have to drive.

The sixth-year pro from Kentucky made his biggest contribution yet to the Boston Celtics' postseason cause Sunday, coming off the bench to score 16 points -- 15 in the first half while filling in for a foul-plagued Kenny Anderson -- in a 90-79 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Delk did his damage from long range, sinking three 3-pointers in the first half, including one just before the halftime buzzer that helped the Celtics regain momentum with a 41-39 lead at the break. For Delk, it felt good just to be hoisting jumpers again.

"I've just been playing defense. I really haven't had opportunities to do a lot of scoring," Delk said. "I hadn't taken many shots (in the series). I think the most shots up to this point was probably four shots. With four shots, you really can't do a whole lot."

Delk took 11 shots Sunday, one more than he had attempted the entire series. He got into the game just 52 seconds after tipoff when Anderson was whistled for his second foul on Chucky Atkins. Delk needed just 36 seconds to score his first bucket on a driving layup in a first-half performance that resembled a former Celtics nemesis from Detroit, Vinnie Johnson -- aka "The Microwave."

"I liked him," said Delk, who scored a career-high 53 points against Sacramento last season. "But let's get this straight, I don't like Detroit."

The Celtics liked Delk and Rodney Rogers enough to acquire them from Phoenix to give them more options on offense and help draw attention away from Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce. Delk, however, has been asked to hang around the background more than he'd prefer, averaging only 7.4 points in 22 regular-season games.

	“	I believe in Tony Delk. It doesn't surprise me that he had a very good game. His work ethic and shooting the basketball to try find his way out of this has paid off. ”
		— Jim O'Brien

His already diminished role was reduced to nothing more than bench cheerleader in the first-round series win over Philadelphia. Delk did not score in three games against the 76ers and attempted a measly two shots. Coming into Sunday, he was averaging just 1.3 points in the playoffs.

Delk's afternoon would be drastically different from his last two games against the Pistons, an 0-for-4 bagel in Game 3 last Friday and an 0-for-3 goose egg in Game 2.

"You never know why somebody might get down in their confidence," Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. "All you can do is believe in them and give them playing time. And I believe in Tony Delk. It doesn't surprise me that he had a very good game. His work ethic and shooting the basketball to try find his way out of this has paid off."

"He's done a terrific job," Walker said of Delk. "He was brought out here to score, but he hasn't had the opportunity that he would like. But he's staying ready for it and he's capable of making shots. He came up big today and we're going to need him as the playoffs continue to go along."

Delk appeared to stand in the right place on the perimeter at the right time. Twice during his 10-point second quarter, a hustling Tony Battie ran down the ball and got it to Delk for jumpers. Even Delk's 3-pointer before the half was the product of a fortuitious bounce.

Driving for the last shot, Walker lost control of the ball, but it ended up in the hands of Anderson, who then fed Delk for an open three from the right corner.

"When you play more minutes, you get opportunities to get yourself going," said Delk, who also had five rebounds in his 29 minutes. "Guys are looking for you. But also, I think the key is just being aggressive."

Delk says he's still trying to get used to his new role with the Celtics. As for his adjustment to New England, well, that'll likely take more time, too.

"I need get used to the weather," he explained. "And get familiar with driving around."

At least he doesn't need directions to the hoop anymore.

Joe Lago is the NBA editor for ESPN.com.