Pistons are NBAs best at All-Star break
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-15 13:34

"Our offense was not where it should have been, and you have to give them credit," Jefferson said. "They always present a challenge. Tonight, we weren't at the top of our game, and they took advantage of that."

The Pistons outscored the Nets 26-11 in the third quarter to turn a six-point halftime lead into a rout.

New Jersey had closed within 49-46 early in the third, but the Pistons responded with a 14-0 run to blow the game open. Billups and Rasheed Wallace had five points each in the spurt.

Carter ended the run with a layup, but the Pistons came back with a spectacular dunk by Ben Wallace off an alley-oop from Billups.

"We turned the ball over a lot and we didn't play defense," Kidd said. "That's what opened up the game."

Billups finished the period with a three-point play to give the Pistons a 71-50 lead.

"We put ourselves in a bad way in the third quarter," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "On the road against a good team, that's one heck of a hole to dig yourself out of."

The Pistons built a 45-39 at the half, as Hamilton and Billups combined for 23 points. Jefferson had 10 for the Nets, who outshot Detroit 43 percent to 39 percent in the first half.