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Wallace helps Pistons hand Lakers first loss

Nov 15, 2008 - 7:54 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Detroit Pistons picked a perfect time to put together their most complete game to date.

Rasheed Wallace poured in 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons handed the Los Angeles Lakers their first setback of the season with a 106-95 victory on Friday.

Allen Iverson also added 25 points for the Pistons, who improved to 3-2 since acquiring the nine-time All-Star from the Denver Nuggets on November 3. Tayshaun Prince chipped in 18 points, six assists and four rebounds as all five starters for Detroit finished in double figures.

"It was our first 48-minute game of the season," Prince said. "It took long enough."

"It's just a couple games, but we're finally catching a little rhythm," Iverson said. "It can only get better, I don't think it will get worse."

The Lakers, who dropped to 7-1 on the season, were looking to go 8-0 for the first time since 1997-98. They entered with the NBA's top offense, averaging 104.7 points per game and were allowing a league-low 86.7 points while beating their opponents by an average of 18.0 points.

Kobe Bryant led the way for Los Angeles with 29 points, in the process passing Larry Bird and Gary Payton to move into 22nd on the all-time scoring list with 21,817 career points.

Pau Gasol had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Lamar Odom added 11 for the Lakers in the losing effort.

"You just take it in stride," Bryant said of the defeat. "You take the wins with the losses and keep on moving."

Gasol's output was nearly matched by the man he was traded for midway through last season. Kwame Brown had his first double-double as a member of the Pistons with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a rare start due to the Lakers' strong inside presence.

Brown and Wallace teamed to keep talented center Andrew Bynum to just eight points.

"Kwame is capable," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of his former player. "We know he has good games, and he had one tonight."

The Pistons built up an 11-point lead at halftime by shooting 56 percent (23-of-41) from the floor in the first half and extended their advantage with a late burst to close out the third quarter.

Wallace banked in a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock to make it 70-58 with 4:53 left in the quarter. Following a layup by Odom, the Pistons scored five straight points thanks in part to a pair of Lakers turnovers that resulted in Richard Hamilton's layup and a 3-pointer by Aaron Afflalo, giving Detroit a 77-62 advantage.

"On the offensive end, we just attacked all night," Iverson said.

The Lakers wouldn't be able overcome the deficit in the fourth, snapping their seven-game win streak.

"We didn't shoot the ball particularly well," Bryant said. "We've had nights like that where our defense normally held us in, but (in this one) we couldn't really corral them."

Prince's 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 6:41 remaining in the contest put the Pistons ahead, 87-71. After the lead swelled to 19 points, Bryant connected for 10 points in a brief span that got the Lakers to within 101-90, but with just 1:08 left, it was not enough.