2-2 Detroit 96 Milwaukee 86

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Detroit 96 Milwaukee 86

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Auburn Hills, Feb. 2 (AP) -- Normally, the Detroit Pistons have too many big men.

Friday, they almost didn't have enough.

With several post players unavailable, Detroit needed key efforts from little-used reserves Nazr Mohammed and Jason Maxiell to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 96-86.

Detroit's problems started before the game, when Dale Davis was put on the inactive list for missing the morning shootaround. Things got worse in the third quarter, when Rasheed Wallace benched himself to avoid being ejected, a fate that quickly befell his replacement, Antonio McDyess.

NBA

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Auburn Hills, Mich. - There are no more silver linings for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks fought the good fight Friday night at the Palace, where they took the Central Division-leading Detroit Pistons into the final minutes before falling, 96-86. The loss was Milwaukee's seventh in a row on the road.

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ON THE COURT

Player of the game: Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince played an active game and was especially effective on the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass. Play of game: Detroit's Nazr Mohammed rebounded a Bucks miss and threw a length-of-the-court pass to Prince, who caught the ball and flipped it over his shoulder to Jason Maxiell, who was following Prince down the lane. Maxiell was fouled and made two free throws with 4.2 seconds left to give Detroit a 72-62 lead after three quarters.

Statistics sheet: The Bucks did not visit the foul line in the first half, when Detroit made eight of nine free throws.

Off the bench: Bucks coach Terry Stotts went with a short bench, playing Earl Boykins 30 minutes, Brian Skinner 19 and Dan Gadzuric 6.

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You usually won't hear the Pistons admit that a few technical fouls can help them down the stretch in a close game.

But that's exactly what they said after Friday's 96-86 win over the struggling Milwaukee Bucks at the Palace.

Free Press

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AUBURN HILLS -- So much for the Pistons' vow to leave the officials alone.

They picked up three technical fouls in the third quarter Friday, but instead of hurting the Pistons, the calls seemed to inspire them.

"Unfortunately, that's probably true," said Chauncey Billups, whose 20 points helped the Pistons stave off the struggling Milwaukee Bucks, 96-86. "We got more motivated and played with more passion after we kind of hit a rock and had some adverse situations."

Detroit News