Getting even: Pistons even series with Game 2 rout of 76ers

[April 24, 2008]  AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Rasheed Wallace had another good game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Unlike the series opener, a few Detroit Pistons starters helped him out.

Wallace scored 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter and Detroit went on to beat Philadelphia 105-88 in Game 2 on Wednesday night to even the first-round series.

The Pistons had four scorers in double figures as it took a 17-point halftime lead, while the 76ers had only Andre Miller, who scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half.

In their 90-86 Game 1 loss, the Pistons blew a 15-point they built midway through the third quarter.

Detroit refused to let the young Sixers rally again.

The Pistons seemed to play with a sense of urgency, swarming the Sixers on defense and relentlessly going after offensive rebounds for second and third chances.

Chauncey Billups made a 3-pointer early in the third -- his first field goal -- and made another from beyond the arc later in the quarter to put Detroit ahead 73-47.

The Pistons didn't have any trouble holding onto the lead.

Game 3 is Friday night in Philadelphia.

In Sunday's loss, Wallace had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks.

His fellow starters combined to makes less than one-third of their shots and missed key free throws.

Wallace and Co. put together a balanced attack in Game 2.

Each of the starters shot at least 50 percent through three quarters and four of them had 16 points, then all but Richard Hamilton rested in the fourth.

Hamilton finished with 20 points, Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess both added 16 and rookie Rodney Stuckey had 12 after being held scoreless in his playoff debut.

Philadelphia reserves Louis Williams (17), Reggie Evans (13) and Rodney Carney (11) each scored career playoff highs.

Sixers star Andre Iguodala got off to another rough start. Unlike Game 1, he didn't bounce back. Iguodala was scoreless in the first half on 0-for-7 shooting and finished with four points after averaging 20 in the regular season and scoring 16 Sunday.

Miller was the only Philadelphia starter who played well when the game was close.

Samuel Dalembert had three points -- giving him eight in the series -- Thaddeus Young scored 11 and Willie Green added six points after setting a career playoff high with 17 in the opener.

After three quarters, Philadelphia's four reservers were outscoring its starters 41-34 despite getting a lot less playing time.

Notes: There was a moment of silence before the game for longtime NBA referee Darell Garretson, who died Monday. ... Perhaps more than any coach in the league, Philadelphia's Maurice Cheeks engaged the regular hecklers that sit behind the visitors' bench at The Palace. When one fan was shouting 40-42 -- referring to the team's regular season record -- Cheeks smiled and replied, "We're 1-0." ... Hamilton was called for a technical foul in the third quarter.

[Associated Press; By LARRY LAGE]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.