Pistons Have the Last Word in Game 3 Win

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Rasheed Wallace walked off to a standing ovation rather than exiting with a stream of expletives.

Making a loud statement during the game instead of before or after it, Wallace scored 20 points in his best performance in a month to lead the Detroit Pistons past the Indiana Pacers, 85-78, on Wednesday night.

Detroit controlled the game with its defense and took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. Game 4 is Friday night.

“Just out there hooping, man, just taking what they gave me, nothing more than that,” said Wallace, who has been the most bombastic character in a series in need of some spunk given the offensive ineptitude of both teams for long stretches.

After guaranteeing a Game 2 victory at Indianapolis, Wallace rubbed it in with an expletive-filled rant directed at Pacer fans as he walked off the court following that game.

Wallace had scored a total of 14 points in the first two games and missed 21 of 26 shots. But his offensive woes disappeared at the arena he has called home since mid-February.

He shot eight for 15 from the field to share team-high scoring honors with Richard Hamilton, who scored 20 points for the 25th time in 32 career playoff games.

“They were trying to concentrate on me in that second half, and that just opened it up,” Wallace said.

Ben Wallace had 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Pistons, who allowed the Pacers to score more points in the fourth quarter (33) than they had in the first half (30).

“We had some tough luck with some good shots,” Pacer Coach Rick Carlisle said. “We gave ourselves a chance, and now we’re going to have to get better at both ends.”

The game suddenly turned interesting when Austin Croshere drove past Rasheed Wallace for a dunk that capped a 10-0 run and cut Detroit’s lead to 76-75.

On the next possession, Rasheed Wallace got the ball in the low post isolated against Croshere and made a turnaround six-foot shot. He was fouled on the play and made the free throw for his final point.

Jermaine O’Neal had 24 points to lead Indiana.

“This series is far from over,” O’Neal said. “I know it’s going to come around for us. We have too many shooters not to make shots.”