MIAMI, 25 May 2005 — The defending NBA champions Detroit Pistons seized control of the Eastern Conference finals with a 90-81 game one win over top seed Miami Heat on Monday.
Detroit got outstanding performances from Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups and controlled Shaquille O’Neal and his new Heat sidekick Dwyane Wade.
“We wanted it a little more,” Wallace said. “I was trying to take good shots and just play man, just play.”
Wallace had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Billups scored eight of his 18 points in the final five minutes, when the second-seeded Pistons showed their championship mettle and dealt Miami their first loss of the postseason.
The 7ft 1in, 330-pound O’Neal was a game-time decision with a bruised thigh that has bothered him for over a month. He was his dominant self at times but seemed to be able to play only in spurts.
In 34 minutes, O’Neal scored 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting. However, he grabbed just five rebounds and was not a factor down the stretch, when the Pistons took control with their defense and clutch play. After Miami had erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit and pulled into an 80-80 tie, Billups made a pair of baskets around a free throw by O’Neal to give Detroit the lead for good with 3:50 remaining.
It was still 84-81 when Wallace made a terrific block of Udonis Haslem’s jumper and saved the rebound with 1:35 to play.
After a jumper by Richard Hamilton, Wallace took a charge from Eddie Jones.
Wade missed a 3-pointer and Billups hit a runner and two free throws to seal it. The Heat did not have a basket in the last five minutes, missing their last seven shots.
Wade, who had been unstoppable through the first two rounds, was held to 16 points on 7-of-25 shooting as he was hounded by Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince.
Hamilton scored 16 points and Ben Wallace added 13 and 13 rebounds for the Pistons, who had six players in double figures and a 41-34 rebounding edge. O’Neal was not listed in the lineups on the scoreboard but started and made his first four shots before swatting a drive by Billups off the backboard.
