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Pistons put pressure on Pacers to get even
Indianapolis, May 27: The Detroit Pistons defeat the Indiana Pacers to even their best-of-seven series at 1 game each.
Indianapolis, May 27: The Detroit Pistons defeat the Indiana Pacers to even their best-of-seven series at 1 game each.
Richard Hamilton had 23 points and eight rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 72-67 road win over the Indiana Pacers in Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Monday (May 24).
The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1, with the series now moving to Auburn Hills, Michigan for Games Three and Four on Wednesday (May 26) and Friday (May 28).
Detroit's Rasheed Wallace had boldly guaranteed a win in Game Two after the Pistons were heavily beaten in the series opener and his 10 points and seven rebounds went some way to helping fulfil the prophecy.
Thanks to a suffocating defence, the Pistons delivered on Wallace's promise despite scoring just 12 points in the opening quarter and trailing by six points at half-time.
In the second-lowest scoring postseason game in NBA history, both teams failed to take control. Detroit led 55-54 at the start of the fourth and by the midway mark, the score was tied at 59-59.
That's when Hamilton took over for the Pistons. He scored the next six points for Detroit, giving his club the lead for good. His layup with 5:43 left gave the Pistons a 61-59 edge and just over a minute later his jumper extended the lead to six points, 65-59.
With the score at 69-67, Indiana had a chance to tie the game on a lay-up by Reggie Miller with less than 15 seconds left, but a spectacular block by Tayshaun Prince stopped the shot. Miller appeared to pull up a bit on the layup attempt to ensure the easy two, but Prince came from out of nowhere to block it and Hamilton collected the loose ball. He hit both shots and Miller missed a three with 10 seconds left as the Pistons went on to victory.
Corliss Williamson added nine points for the Pistons, who held the Pacers to just 24 points in the second half. Reggie Miller led Indiana with 21 points and six rebounds, while Jermaine O'Neal was held to just 16 points and eight rebounds.
Ron Artest had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers before fouling out.
Bureau Report
Thanks to a suffocating defence, the Pistons delivered on Wallace's promise despite scoring just 12 points in the opening quarter and trailing by six points at half-time.
In the second-lowest scoring postseason game in NBA history, both teams failed to take control. Detroit led 55-54 at the start of the fourth and by the midway mark, the score was tied at 59-59.
That's when Hamilton took over for the Pistons. He scored the next six points for Detroit, giving his club the lead for good. His layup with 5:43 left gave the Pistons a 61-59 edge and just over a minute later his jumper extended the lead to six points, 65-59.
With the score at 69-67, Indiana had a chance to tie the game on a lay-up by Reggie Miller with less than 15 seconds left, but a spectacular block by Tayshaun Prince stopped the shot. Miller appeared to pull up a bit on the layup attempt to ensure the easy two, but Prince came from out of nowhere to block it and Hamilton collected the loose ball. He hit both shots and Miller missed a three with 10 seconds left as the Pistons went on to victory.
Corliss Williamson added nine points for the Pistons, who held the Pacers to just 24 points in the second half. Reggie Miller led Indiana with 21 points and six rebounds, while Jermaine O'Neal was held to just 16 points and eight rebounds.
Ron Artest had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers before fouling out.
Bureau Report