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| Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace (R) celebrates
next to center Houston Rockets Yao Ming after rebounding a
shot in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at the
Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan November 2, 2004.
[Agencies] |
Rasheed Wallace, one of five Pistons to score in double figures, had 24 points to help Detroit
defeat the Houston Rockets 87-79 Tuesday night in the first game of the
NBA season.
Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, playing their first regular-season game
together, found out what Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal did during their
last five games together with the Los Angeles Lakers: The Pistons,
relentless on defense and
well-balanced on offense, are tough to beat.
McGrady missed 12 of 18 shots and finished with 18 points after scoring
just three during the first half. Yao had just seven points on 2-of-9
shooting.
Detroit's entire starting lineup from last season is back, and all five
players scored at least 10. Aside from Rasheed Wallace's big night on
10-of-19 shooting, Chauncey Billups had 17, Richard Hamilton scored 15,
Ben Wallace had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Tayshaun Prince scored 10
while smothering McGrady
defensively much like he did against Bryant during the NBA Finals.
The Rockets shot just 39 percent. Charlie Ward had 13 points, Maurice
Taylor had 12 and Jim Jackson added 10.
Rasheed Wallace, Billups and Prince made 3-pointers early in the fourth
quarter to cap a 13-2 run, putting the Pistons ahead 68-61. After
Detroit's stingy defense forced a shot-clock violation midway through the
fourth, Ben Wallace's tip-jam gave the Pistons a 76-66 lead.
 The Rockets didn't get closer than five after that.
Detroit had one last chance to enjoy its accomplishment from last
season. Before the game, the Pistons were presented with championship
rings by commissioner David Stern.
When the nine returning Pistons walked to center court for their rings
during a 15-minute ceremony, they wore huge, gold-plated black belts
provided by Rasheed Wallace that read: World Heavyweight Wrestling
Champion.
Just before Detroit's third world championship banner was raised to the
rafters, Billups reached his right hand out and grabbed it.
The Rockets acquired McGrady during the offseason hoping he and Yao
could form an inside-outside combination that could replace O'Neal and
Bryant as the dominant duo in the NBA.
Antonio McDyess was ejected from his Pistons debut for kicking the ball
while complaining about a foul.
McDyess was called for a foul as he jumped for a rebound
with 5:51 left in the second quarter. As McDyess walked downcourt, he dropped the
basketball, kicked it and was ejected because of a new NBA rule. He
had three points, one rebound and one steal in nine
minutes against Houston.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-11-01 14:55