The Philadelphia 76ers took advantage of a perfect storm to stun the Detroit Pistons.
Richard Hamilton missed shots he normally makes and Chauncey Billups uncharacteristically struggled at the line for the Pistons in the fourth quarter. Bruising power forward Reggie Evans made a 17-foot fadeaway just before the shot clock expired and the 76ers beat the Pistons 90-86 at the Palace on Auburn Hills in Michigan on Sunday night in Game 1 of their first-round series.
"When Rip Hamilton misses free throws, Chauncey Billups misses free throws and Reggie Evans hits a fadeaway, our chances are good," 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said.
The star of the game, Rasheed Wallace, couldn't come through when the Pistons needed him most. He missed a shot near the basket with 10 seconds left that would've made it 88-all.
"I'll put this one on me," Wallace said.
Wallace had 24 points, nine rebounds and matched a franchise playoff record with seven blocks, but that wasn't enough to prevent the biggest upset in an opening game of these National Basketball Association playoffs.
"We're not surprised," Evans said. "Around the NBA, they're surprised.
"I'm pretty sure we shocked a lot of people."
Both teams will get two days off before Detroit hosts Game 2.
"It's a must-win game now," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said.
In other playoff games on Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers beat Denver 128-114; Orlando topped Toronto 114-100; and Boston routed Atlanta 104-81.
Detroit, which has advanced to five straight conference finals, hadn't lost a Game 1 in the first round since 2003 against Orlando.
In that matchup, the Pistons ended up advancing after trailing 1-3.
"We're going to be all right," Billups said. "We have been here before. We don't want to hang our hat on that, but it is a fact. We know what it takes."
The Sixers entered the playoffs with less experience than any team, but didn't look out of place against a team that trails only San Antonio in combined postseason games.
"We tried to use our youth to our advantage," Andre Iguodala said.
Andre Miller had 20 points, Willie Green scored a career playoff-high 17, Iguodala had career playoff-highs in points (16) and assists (eight).
Evans added a career playoff-high 11 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, backing up Thaddeus Young, who scored 10 for the Sixers in his postseason debut.
The Eastern Conference's second-seeded team was expected to beat the Sixers by double digits and did lead by 15 midway through the third quarter.
But Philadelphia refused to follow the script.
After the Sixers trailed 47-62, Green made two baskets during a 10-0 run that sparked a comeback.
"That kind of swung the momentum," Miller said.
Miller gave Philadelphia a lead midway through the fourth quarter for the first time since late in the first.
After Billups missed three of four free throws and a layup in 2-plus minutes late in the game, he made two from the line to pull the Pistons within one with 45 seconds left.
Billups scored 14, Hamilton had 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting, Maxiell added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
(Agencies April 22, 2008)