Basketball: Pistons in fightback to claim first game

Detroit Pistons' forward Rasheed Wallace swings from the basket after dunking the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pistons won the first game in the series to defend their NBA title. Picture / Reuters

TORONTO - Rasheed Wallace had 29 points and Tayshaun Prince added 23 as the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons eased to a 106-85 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers in game one of the Eastern Conference playoffs yesterday.

Detroit got off to a sluggish start in the first game of the best-of-seven series and trailed by 16 points in the opening quarter, but by the half, the Pistons had a 48-46 lead and assumed control after the intermission.

"They got off to a great start," Prince said. "But once we got some patience and set our defence, things started to go our way.

"They're the type of team where they're never out of it. They're going to make some adjustments for game two, and we are too.

"It's difficult to repeat. It's going to be a long series."

Allen Iverson, winner of the NBA scoring title for a fourth time, turned in another tireless effort for the 76ers, scoring a game-high 30 points and dishing out 10 assists.

Chris Webber chipped in with 27 points, but the 76ers could not sustain the level of energy they displayed in the opening quarter.

Richard Hamilton had 17 points and did a solid job guarding Iverson, and Antonio McDyess contributed 15 points to the Pistons' cause.

Ben Wallace also made his presence felt, particularly on the boards, with seven blocks and 10 rebounds.

Game two is scheduled for Wednesday, also in Auburn Hills.

In Dallas, an inspired Tracy McGrady poured in a game-high 34 points to guide the Houston Rockets to a deserved 98-86 win over the Mavericks in game one of their Western Conference quarter-final.

Behind McGrady, the Rockets blasted to a 19-point lead in the opening half, then held off a late rally by the Mavericks, who trimmed the deficit to 75-71 in the final quarter. But that was as close as the Mavericks would get and the Rockets answered with a 9-2 run to ease in front 84-73 on a Jon Barry three-pointer.

Houston's Mike James contributed a playoff career-high 16 points while Yao Ming had Dikembe Mutombo combined for 19 points and 16 rebounds.

Dirk Nowitzki paced the Mavericks with 21 points, Josh Howard and Jason Terry had 17. Game two is in Dallas tomorrow.

Playoff facts

* Ben Wallace's seven blocks tied Bob Lanier's Pistons playoff record.

* Detroit won three of the four regular season matchups with Philadelphia this season.

* The Sixers have made the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons.

* Dallas was eliminated by the Sacramento Kings in five games in last season's first round.

* This is the second time that Dallas and Houston have met in the post-season.

* In 1988, the Mavericks eliminated the Rockets, 3-1, in the first round.

- REUTERS