Pistons overpower Pacers
Detroit and Indiana were able to just play basketball for the first time this season at The Palace.
“It was good to see the focus on basketball,” said Ben Wallace, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year who also came through on offense Monday night in a 96-81 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Auburn Hills, Mich. “We sort of left the past in the past and that’s a good thing for both teams, and the league.”
Naturally, Wallace played a big role defensively with 15 rebounds and four steals. But he scored 14 of his 21 points in the first half to help Detroit build a big lead it maintained easily.
The Pacers’ two previous road games against the Pistons were marred by the infamous melee – which started on the court, spilled into the stands and went back onto the court – and a phone threat of a bomb in Indiana’s locker room, delaying the second game at The Palace by almost 90 minutes.
Detroit’s Richard Hamilton had 28 points, while Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace each scored 11.
Game 2 in the best-of-7 series is Wednesday night.
Just like both teams predicted, they were able to play without unusual distractions.
Indiana’s Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal, suspended for 30 and 15 games, respectively, for their roles in the brawl, were booed louder than the rest of their teammates during pregame introductions and sometimes when they had the ball.
That seemed to be the only carryover from the regular-season matchups in suburban Detroit.
After winning at Boston in Game 7 of the first round, the Pacers were left with only one day of rest before facing Detroit, which was off six days after eliminating Philadelphia in Game 5.
“We do not have any excuses,” Jackson said. “They wanted to come out and make a statement and they did.”
Indiana scored the first basket, then fell behind and couldn’t do much about it.
O’Neal had a great start, then cooled down, finishing with 22 points. Jackson didn’t score until early in the second quarter and finished with 15 points. Both players signed autographs for fans before the game.
The Pacers’ Ron Artest, suspended for the rest of the season for his part in the brawl, is expected to practice with his teammates when they return to Indianapolis. Reggie Miller, who plans to retire after the season, scored just six points – nearly 10 below his playoff average – and struggled to stay with Hamilton. Jamaal Tinsley added 13 points for the Pacers.
Detroit started aggressively, driving for shots in the lane instead of settling for jumpers. O’Neal prevented the Pacers from falling behind earlier by scoring 12 of their first 16 points. Detroit led 23-20 after the first quarter.
The Pistons built a cushion by outscoring Indiana 11-4 to open the second quarter and led by as much as 16 before taking a 52-38 lead at halftime. The Pistons started the fourth quarter with a 72-57 lead.
“Right now, we are playing a team that is bringing a different level of force than we have seen in the last couple weeks, and we will have to step it up in a lot of areas,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.
Suns 127, Mavericks 102
The Phoenix Suns are just too fast to gather any rust.
With Amare Stoudemire powering for career playoff highs of 40 points and 16 rebounds, the Suns blew past visiting Dallas in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Phoenix had not played in eight days after sweeping Memphis, but the Suns came out rested and running against the Mavericks, who were coming off a 40-point victory over Houston in Game 7 of their first-round series Saturday night.
Joe Johnson had 25 points and Shawn Marion 23 points and 11 rebounds in a game the Suns never trailed.
Steve Nash, going against the team he left after six seasons when Mavericks owner Mark Cuban refused to come close to the five-year, $65 million he got from the Suns, was presented the league’s most valuable player trophy by NBA commissioner David Stern before the game, holding it high above his head for the cheering crowd.
Then Phoenix was off and running, scoring the first eight points, leading by as many as 18 in the second quarter and 26 at the end of three.
Dallas coach Avery Johnson wasn’t around to watch the final quarter. He drew two quick technical fouls from referee Dan Crawford while complaining that Dirk Nowitzki was fouled on a turnover. Johnson was tossed with 3:20 left in the third quarter and his team down 89-68.
Nash had 11 points and 13 assists as Phoenix improved to 5-0 in the playoffs.
Nowitzki scored 28 for Dallas.