Webber spoils Wallace's return to Detroit
(Reuters)Updated: 2007-02-26 09:27 DETROIT - Chris Webber scored with 2.2 seconds left to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 95-93 win over the Chicago Bulls and spoil Ben Wallace's return to Auburn Hills on Sunday.
Webber matched a season-high with 21 points for the Pistons, who won their fourth successive game and 15th in the 18 games since he has been in the starting lineup.
"I'm not trying to replace Ben (Wallace)," Webber told reporters. "I'm just playing like a guy who is happy to be a Piston."
 Detroit Pistons' Chris Webber (84) drives past Chicago Bulls' Ben Wallace of England during the second half of the basketball game at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007. Detroit went on to win 95-93. [AP] |
The usual sell-out crowd at The Palace was not happy to see Wallace in a Chicago uniform and the four-times NBA Defensive Player of the Year was booed every time he touched the ball.
Wallace signed a four-year, $60-million contract with the Bulls in the off-season and seemed to enjoy being the center of attention in a building where he enjoyed his greatest success for six seasons.
"I wanted to see how loud they would boo," Wallace said.
The streaking Pistons opened up a 4 ? game lead in the Central Division with their 11th in 12 games after the Bulls had squandered a 16-point third-quarter lead.
Richard Hamilton led all scorers with 22 points, Chauncey Billups had 15 points and nine assists and Tayshaun Prince added 14 points and nine rebounds for Detroit.
Ben Gordon scored 21 points to lead the Bulls and P.J. Brown matched a season high with 19 points. Luol Deng added 18 points for Chicago, whose three-game winning streak was snapped.
*Tracy McGrady scored 34 points against his former team mates to lead the Houston Rockets to a 97-93 win over the Orlando Magic.
*Shaquille O'Neal had 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Miami Heat edged the Cleveland Cavaliers 87-81. Miami won for just the second time in nine games with Dwyane Wade out of the lineup. LeBron James had 29 points to lead Cleveland.
*Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 17 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves ended a three-game losing streak by downing the Washington Wizards 98-94.
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