NBA Game Summary - Detroit at Charlotte

04.20.2005

Charlotte, NC (Basketball News) - Emeka Okafor and Brevin Knight each posted double-doubles as the expansion Charlotte Bobcats closed out the regular season on a positive note, defeating playoff bound Detroit, 97-86, at Charlotte Coliseum.

Okafor, who made a strong case for Rookie of the Year honors throughout the season, recorded his rookie-leading 47th double-double with 16 points and tied a career-high with 19 rebounds, while Knight netted 14 points with 13 assists.

Keith Bogans added 17 points, Melvin Ely contributed 15 and Jason Kapano chipped in 12 off the bench for the Bobcats.

"These guys played their hearts out," said Charlotte team owner Robert Johnson.

Tayshaun Prince and Ronald Dupree each scored 13 points for the Central Division champion Pistons, who saw their season-high 11-game winning streak come to an end. Ben Wallace added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit, which played without guard Richard Hamilton, who was placed on the injured list on Wednesday with an eye injury.

Rasheed Wallace (sore left hamstring) also sat out the contest. Pistons coach Larry Brown used both moves as a precaution. The Pistons ended the season with a 54-28 record.

Hamilton suffered a laceration over his left eye when he was fouled by Cleveland’s Zydrunas Ilgauskas late in the third quarter of Sunday’s 90-87 win. Hamilton, who is netting a team-high 18.7 points per contest, is expected to play when the Pistons open their NBA title defense on Saturday at home against Philadelphia. The Pistons won the season series against the 76ers, 3-1.

Detroit led 25-24 after one quarter of play. The Pistons pushed their margin to 35-31 with around eight minutes left in the first half, but the Bobcats answered with a 11-2 burst to take the lead. Knight’s jumper capped the run, staking Charlotte to a 42-37 edge with 5:32 left in the second.

The Bobcats then carried a 57-49 lead into the locker room. Ely paced Charlotte with 10 points, while Prince led all players with 11 points at the break.

Charlotte would then lead 80-70 after three quarters of action. The Pistons would never really threaten in the fourth against the first-year Bobcats, who closed out their inaugural season with an 18-64 mark.

Detroit finished the campaign with a 22-19 record in foreign buildings, while the Bobcats ended 14-27 at home...The Pistons shot just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc... In a symbol of gratitude, the Bobcats turned the game into Fan Appreciation Night.

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