Need4Sheed’s Pistons-Sixers Game One Wrap-up

Detroit Pistons 86 - Philadelphia 76ers 90

Reggie Evans, Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala jumped for joy as the buzzer sounded Sunday evening at The Palace of Auburn Hills, and rightfully so as they stole the first game on the road against the second seed Detroit Pistons. I didn’t see the looks on Rasheed Wallace and Co. faces, but if they were half has upset as the stunned crowd in Detroit, you can bet it wasn’t a happy Pistons locker room. Philly’s 90-86 victory was even more impressive considering the Sixers overcame a fifteen point deficit.

Rasheed Wallace led Detroit with 24 points, 9 boards and a whopping 7 blocked shots, but it was his missed shot under the basket that could have tied the game at 88 with seconds left, is what will be remembered.

Andre Miller scored 20 points and Willie Green had a career playoff-high 17, not to mention Reggie Evans, who scored 11 and pulled down 14 boards off the bench. The Sixers came out of halftime blazing, scoring the first eight points of the second half. Philly went on an 11-2 run to make it a game and put the pressure on Detroit. While the Sixers got hot, Detroit went ice cold missing easy shots, especially in the fourth quarter when Philadelphia outscored the Pistons 27-16.

·Jason Maxiell put up a double- double with 12 points, 11 boards, a blocked shot and a steal off the bench. Maxiell drew a charge late in the fourth to give the Pistons a chance to take the lead late in the game.

· Rasheed Wallace tied a Pistons playoff high with 7 blocks.

·Detroit shot 39% for the night and lost the board war 43-45.

· Detroit’s all-star backcourt of Billups and Hamilton shot just 10-30 on the night.

·Antonio McDyess played just 20 minutes for the Pistons and Thaddeus Young who started the game off strong for the Sixers saw almost no time in the second half.

·Rasheed Wallace tried to get a little inside information by joining the Sixers huddle on the last play of the game. 

It’s always considered a bad sign when Mr. Big Shot misses his free throws. Billups and Hamilton, both clutch from the line, missed four free throws down the stretch that would have likely been a game changer. And when you see Rahsheed Wallace is headbandless, something has gone awry. The Pistons now finds themselves in a must win game position for game two Wednesday at home, something I’m sure not even the Sixers anticipated.