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Pistons beat Heat for ninth straight win
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-30 14:26
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Detroit Pistons showed the Miami Heat that their
many moves might not make a difference. Chauncey Billups scored 30 and Richard
Hamilton had 25 points and a season-high nine assists Thursday night leading
Detroit past the Heat 106-101 in a rematch of the last season's Eastern
Conference finals.
Detroit Pistons
guard Chauncey Billups (1) shoots over Miami Heat guard Jason Williams
during the fourth quarter of their NBA game at the Palace in Auburn Hills,
Michigan December 29, 2005. [Reuters] | In their
first matchup since the Pistons won at Miami in Game 7 of the series, Detroit
used clutch shots and key defensive plays in the final minutes to pull away in
the close game.
Detroit has won a season-high nine straight games. The Pistons are an
NBA-best 24-3, with a 27-game record that trails just two teams in NBA history.
Dwyane Wade had 33 points, Shaquille O'Neal scored 26 and Jason Williams
chipped in with 20 points for the Heat, who had won seven of nine games.
Miami added players through free agency and trades in the offseason, and Pat
Riley replaced Stan Van Gundy as coach earlier this month.
The Pistons have had the same starting five for nearly two years, a span that
includes one NBA title and falling just short of a repeat.
Detroit's Rasheed Wallace scored 21 points and Tayshaun Prince added 13.
The Pistons, off to the best start in franchise history, have won 13 games in
December for the first time and have lost only once this month.
Following 17 lead changes and 15 ties, Rasheed Wallace's 3-pointer gave
Detroit an 83-74 lead with 10:49 left.
Miami then scored seven straight points to pull within two, a deficit the
Heat had four more times in the fourth quarter before Williams' steal and basket
made it 95-all with 4:11 to go.
After two more ties, Billups' layup and Rasheed Wallace's fourth 3-pointer
put the Pistons ahead 104-99 with 1:04 remaining.
Detroit sealed the win on the next two possessions when Prince forced Wade
into an errant shot, and Ben Wallace tipped the ball away from O'Neal.
The game was close and intense, like most of the conference finals.
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