Pistons reserves outplay Cavs backups


April 16, 2008 at 11:00p.m.

Pistons reserves outplay Cavs backups

CLEVELAND — LeBron James rested his back — and sat on his scoring title.

Cleveland’s All-Star forward spent the final game of the regular season in street clothes Wednesday night, resting up for the NBA playoffs and watching Detroit’s reserves outplay Cleveland’s bench players as the Pistons beat the Cavaliers 84-74.

Rookie Aaron Afflalo scored 15 points, Jason Maxiell had 13 and Rodney Stuckey 12 for the Pistons, who will meet the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round starting Sunday.

Wally Szczerbiak, who has struggled to find his shooting touch since coming to Cleveland in a trade, scored 18 points to pace the Cavaliers. Delonte West, another of the newer Cavaliers, added 11 points and Dwyane Jones had 10 rebounds.

Not wanting to risk injury to James or center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown didn’t activate his two best players so they’d be ready for Cleveland’s opening-round matchup against the Washington Wizards.

Complete story appears in Thursday’s edition.