Strong Second Half Leads Wizards Past Sinking Pistons 107-94

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

The Washington Wizards bounced back from trailing by 15 points in the first quarter to defeat the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night 107-94. Caron Butler scored a game high 33 points, to carry his team past Detroit who went with a three guard starting lineup, as they inserted point guard Rodney Stuckey instead of center Kwame Brown. Washington used a strong second half to propel them to the victory.

I advocated Detroit putting Rodney Stuckey in the starting lineup after they lost to the N.Y. Knicks on Sunday Knicks Shut Down Pistons 104-92. I also was adamantly against the Pistons signing Kwame Brown, and putting him in their starting lineup. But the starting five that rookie head coach Michael Curry had on the floor at the Verizon Center Tuesday night just made no sense! Granted the current Wizards starting five are not going to be confused with the Boston Celtics, but to say the Pistons put an undersized team on the hardwood would be an understatement.

Rasheed Wallace is not a “pure center” and although Tayshaun Prince is 6′9″ he is rather slender, yet he was in effect their power forward. Although Richard Hamilton can play the small forward, Allen Iverson is six feet at best. Stuckey at 6′5″ balances him out, but you have a very small NBA starting lineup. Don Nelson would think it’s a small lineup!

Detroit came out strong in the first as the Wizards looked like they needed a road map to find the basket, resulting in the Pistons leading at the end of the quarter 29-14. The momentum completely shifted in the second, as Washington climbed back into the game, and Detroit’s lead was down to just 3 points at the half 46-43.

The Pistons looked like they were on their way to a blowout as Hamilton hit a pair at the line putting his team up 66-57 with 4:41 left in the third. The Wizards would score the next 11 points, giving them a 68-66 lead when Andray Blatche sank a shot 3 feet from the basket with 1:55 left. Blatche hit a mid-range jumper with 1 second left in the third giving Washington a 74-68 lead at the end of the quarter.

Antonio McDyess in his first game back with Detroit, drove the lane put the ball up and in, was fouled and hit his free throw cutting the lead to 80-76 with 9:45 to play in the fourth. But the Wizards put the game away as Dominic McGuire put the ball through the hoop with 7:28 left giving his club an 86-76 lead. Washington had the lead the rest of the game.

Caron Butler had a game high 33 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal, in the Washington victory. Juan Dixon came off the bench with 16 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 block, while Darius Songaila also came off the pine with 15 points, and 5 rebounds. Antawn Jamison recorded a double-double, 10 points, 11 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals.

Richard Hamilton scored 29 points for Detroit, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Rasheed Wallace dropped 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, Allen Iverson added 13 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds. Rodney Stuckey was credited with a double-double, 10 points, 11 assists, and 1 rebound. The Wizards after the win have a record of 4-15, Detroit slips to 11-9.

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