Cavs falter in conference finals rematch
By LARRY LAGE
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Richard Hamilton returned to the lineup and scored 14 points, leading the Detroit Pistons to an 85-71 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.
LeBron James had a lackluster night with 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting with five assists and five turnovers. James, though, didn’t get much help from his teammates.
Ben Wallace, in his first game at The Palace since joining the Cavs, was back on the court after missing two-plus games with back spams. But he didn’t last long, needing help to go to the locker room after his back injury flared up.
Chauncey Billups and reserve Jason Maxiell each scored 13 while Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess had 12 points apiece for the Pistons, who have won three of four. Hamilton had missed three games with a sore hip.
After missing his first eight shots, Cleveland’s Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 11 points. Reserve Devin Brown scored 11 poins and Joe Smith, who was acquired last month from Chicago along with Wallace, had 10 points off the bench.
Daniel Gibson was healthy enough to play for the Cavs since Feb. 20, when he sprained his left ankle. He scored only a point in 18 minutes.
The Cavs chose to rest guard Delonte West, who has been slowed by ankle tendinitis.
Detroit took control in the opening minutes — going ahead 6-0 while Cleveland missed its first four shots — and the Cavs didn’t seem to put up much of a fight to rally back.