Spurs hold on to beat the Pistons 80-77
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-04 13:38

Ben Wallace's return from a six-game suspension couldn't help the Detroit Pistons overcome San Antonio, with Tony Parker scoring 20 points and Brent Barry hitting two critical free throws in the final seconds as the Spurs held on for a rugged 80-77 victory Friday night.

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) of France defends Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups (1) during the fourth quarter in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 3, 2004. Parker scored a team-high 20 points for the Spurs. Billups scored a team-high 18 for the Pistons. San Antonio won 80-77. [AP]

The game matching the last two NBA champions saw the Pistons nearly come all the way back from a 21-point deficit against the Spurs, who won the league title two years ago.

Chauncey Billups scored all of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including a long 3-pointer that cut the Spurs lead to 78-77 with 7.9 seconds left.

But the Pistons fouled Barry three seconds later and he hit both free throws for his only points of the night.

Malik Rose then stole the Pistons inbounds pass, but missed both free throws. Rasheed Wallace's desperation 3-pointer sailed over the backboard at the final buzzer.

Ben Wallace was back in the lineup after his suspension for his role in last month's brawl with the Indiana Pacers and fans.

There was definitely more rust than fight in Wallace's game against the Spurs. After spending his suspension watching Pistons games from his home in suburban Detroit, Wallace played 33 minutes but had a miserable night, finishing with five points on 2-of-9 shooting with nine rebounds.

The physically imposing anchor of the Detroit defense under the basket, Wallace didn't have a rebound in the first quarter, barely hit the rim on a free throw and Tim Duncan posted him up before throwing down a dunk in the second.

Even with him struggling, the Pistons fought back from an 11-point deficit in the first quarter to make it 34-33 in the second before the Spurs closed the half with a 12-4 run.

Rose scored seven in the run and Duncan swished a buzzer-beater 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 46-37 at halftime. Duncan finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds.

The Spurs seemed to take the Pistons out of it a 16-5 run to open the third. Manu Ginobili hit a 3-pointer, Ben Wallace had a turnover on Detroit's first possession and Duncan followed a rare missed dunk with a tip-in bucket.

By then, the Spurs had kicked up the pace, pushing the ball upcourt after every rebound to score quick buckets in transition. Parker split Antonio McDyess and Billups with a spinning layup in the lane that made it 63-42.

That's when they nearly gave it away with a rash of turnovers and poor shooting as Billups started heating up. The Pistons outscored San Antonio 29-17 in the final period.

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