nba roundup Wednesday’s playoff games

Pistons 105, 76ers 88

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Rasheed Wallace had another good game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Unlike the series opener, a few Detroit Pistons starters helped him out. Wallace scored 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter and Detroit went on to beat Philadelphia in Game 2 to even the first-round series. The Pistons had four scorers in double figures as it took a 17-point halftime lead, while the 76ers had only Andre Miller, who scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half. In their 90-86 Game 1 loss, the Pistons blew a 15-point they built midway through the third quarter. Detroit refused to let the young Sixers rally again. The Pistons seemed to play with a sense of urgency, swarming the Sixers on defense and relentlessly going after offensive rebounds for second and third chances. Chauncey Billups made a 3-pointer early in the third — his first field goal — and made another from beyond the arc later in the quarter to put Detroit ahead 73-47. The Pistons didn’t have any trouble holding onto the lead. Game 3 is Friday night in Philadelphia. In Sunday’s loss, Wallace had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks. His fellow starters combined to makes less than one-third of their shots and missed key free throws. Wallace and Co. put together a balanced attack in Game 2. Each of the starters shot at least 50 percent through three quarters and four of them had 16 points, then all but Richard Hamilton rested in the fourth. Hamilton finished with 20 points, Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess both added 16 and rookie Rodney Stuckey had 12 after being held scoreless in his playoff debut. Philadelphia reserves Louis Williams (17), Reggie Evans (13) and Rodney Carney (11) each scored career playoff highs. Sixers star Andre Iguodala got off to another rough start.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Rasheed Wallace had another good game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Unlike the series opener, a few Detroit Pistons starters helped him out. Wallace scored 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter and Detroit went on to beat Philadelphia in Game 2 to even the first-round series. The Pistons had four scorers in double figures as it took a 17-point halftime lead, while the 76ers had only Andre Miller, who scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half. In their 90-86 Game 1 loss, the Pistons blew a 15-point they built midway through the third quarter. Detroit refused to let the young Sixers rally again. The Pistons seemed to play with a sense of urgency, swarming the Sixers on defense and relentlessly going after offensive rebounds for second and third chances. Chauncey Billups made a 3-pointer early in the third — his first field goal — and made another from beyond the arc later in the quarter to put Detroit ahead 73-47. The Pistons didn’t have any trouble holding onto the lead. Game 3 is Friday night in Philadelphia. In Sunday’s loss, Wallace had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks. His fellow starters combined to makes less than one-third of their shots and missed key free throws. Wallace and Co. put together a balanced attack in Game 2. Each of the starters shot at least 50 percent through three quarters and four of them had 16 points, then all but Richard Hamilton rested in the fourth. Hamilton finished with 20 points, Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess both added 16 and rookie Rodney Stuckey had 12 after being held scoreless in his playoff debut. Philadelphia reserves Louis Williams (17), Reggie Evans (13) and Rodney Carney (11) each scored career playoff highs. Sixers star Andre Iguodala got off to another rough start.

Celtics 96, Hawks 77

BOSTON — Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo added 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds to lead Boston to a 2-0 lead in the first-round series. Paul Pierce returned from a first-quarter knockdown to score 14 points, and Kendrick Perkins added eight points and nine rebounds for the Celtics. Josh Smith, who helped take Pierce down and appeared to land on him and roll over his head, had 13 points and eight rebounds for Atlanta. Game 3 is Saturday in Atlanta.