Wallace’s miracle shot helps Pistons to OT win

Wallace scored 22 points, 16 in the fourth quarter and overtime, and grabbed nine rebounds in his first game back from an automatic one-game suspension after he was called for his 18th technical foul of the season Friday against San Antonio. Chauncey Billups scored 34 points and tallied 10 assists for Detroit, which won it’s second in a row, and secured a spot in the postseason for the sixth straight year.

Antonio McDyess finished with 20 points and 11 boards, and Tayshaun Prince had 19 points and eight boards for the Pistons, who were without Chris Webber and Richard Hamilton, who both missed the game with flu-like symptoms.

Marcus Camby scored 24 points and pulled down 13 boards for the Nuggets, who have dropped three of four. Nene finished with 21 points and 17 boards, and J.R. Smith added 21 points as well. Neither Allen Iverson or Carmelo Anthony played well, with Iverson finishing with 16 points, and Anthony held to 13 points.

Ahead 97-95, Iverson missed one-of-two free throws with 12.8 seconds left to open the door for the Pistons, but the game appeared to be over after Billups missed a three, and the rebound kicked out of bounds off of McDyess’ leg.

Ahead by three, all Denver needed to do was inbound the ball and run off the final two seconds, but the pass was tipped to Wallace, who hoisted the shot from well behind the halfcourt line, and the ball bounced in off the glass after the buzzer sounded, tying the game at 98.

Wallace then hit a three with 59 seconds left in overtime to tie the game at 106 and, after McDyess made one-of-two free throws, Wallace made two of his own to put Detroit ahead 109-106 with 18.7 seconds left. Billups and Ronald Murray each made two free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the win.

The game was tied at 71 after three quarters.

The Pistons held a 26-13 lead entering the second quarter.

Billups hit back-to-back three-pointers to post the Pistons to a 38-23 lead with 7:36 left in the second. Detroit turnovers cued a Denver comeback, though, as the Nuggets closed the first half with a 21-4 run. Smith scored 12 points during the run, including two threes, and the Nuggets took a 44-42 lead into the break.

Game Notes

The Pistons improved to 17-3 when scoring 100-plus points...Denver has lost 11 straight at Detroit, and hasn’t won in Auburn Hills since 1995.