Pistons tie series with brilliant 2nd half
Detroit shows Philly why they're heavily favoured
Last Updated: Sunday, April 27, 2008 | 9:58 PM ET
CBC Sports
Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala works against Detroit's Richard Hamilton, left, Rasheed Wallace, back and Tayshaun Prince, right, in a successful first half for the Sixers on Sunday. The Pistons overwhelmed Philly in the second half to take the game. (Tom Mihalek/Associated Press)Just when all those Philly fans were reaching for their Rocky DVDs and trading "yo, Mick," greetings with each other, the Detroit Pistons reasserted themselves.
Down 2-1 in their NBA Eastern Conference preliminary series with the Philadelphia 76ers, and trailing by 10 at halftime in Sunday's Game 4, the Pistons showed why they were heavily favoured to handle the Pennsylvania upstarts.
First, there was a 10-0 and 16-1 run to start the third quarter, then Rip Hamilton rediscovered his shooting touch in the fourth. By time it was all over, Detroit had a 93-84 victory and a 2-2 series tie.
Game 5 is Tuesday in Detroit.
Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 23 points, six rebounds and four big steals, while Rasheed Wallace added 20 and 10 boards.
Thaddeus Young had 15 points and nine boards for the Sixers. Andre Miller and Willie Green contributed 13 each.
Down 46-36 out of the dressing room, the Pistons took over the contest and when Prince put in an easy layup with 9:37 to go in the third, it gave Detroit a lead for the first time in the game.
Keyed by a trio of deep threes by Wallace, the Pistons had the lead up to eight heading into the final frame after a dominant, 34-16 performance in the third.
In the final 12, Hamilton put on a show, hitting four baskets in a row and five of six as the Pistons built a margin Philly could not overcome.
Sixers come out shooting
This one was all Philadelphia in the first half as they came blasting out and led 25-19 after the opening 12 minutes and by 10, 46-36 into the dressing room.
Especially impressive was how the Sixers spread the offence out, with Andre Iguodala getting nine points and three boards, Miller eight points and Green seven.
Prince had 10 to lead the Pistons, who shot just 37.5 per cent from the floor to Philly's 54.5.
