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Sixers seek commanding lead over Pistons

Apr 23, 2008 - 2:02 PM Philadelphia at Detroit 7:30 pm EDT Eastern Conference first round 76ers lead, 1-0

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) - The Philadelphia 76ers managed to pull off a huge upset in Game One.

Now, the seventh-seeded 76ers look to take a commanding two-games-to-none lead in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs when they visit the second-seeded Detroit Pistons for Game Two on Wednesday.

Andre Miller scored 20 points, Willie Green added 17 and Andre Iguodala contributed 16, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Sixers, who rallied from a 15-point deficit to down the Pistons, 90-86, in Game One on Sunday.

"It was a great game by us and it was a great victory by us," Green said. "Guys went out there and played hard against a really good Detroit Pistons team, and we will take it, we will take the win."

Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace played well in the loss, but disappeared late in the game as Detroit was outscored, 27-16, in the final period.

Billups, who is a 96 percent free-throw shooter in the final three minutes of the game this season, scored 14 points but missed four free throws and a wide-open layup in the fourth quarter.

"I think what happens is we had a horrible start to the third quarter, and it throws us out of rhythm," Billups said. "My missed free throws were big and the missed layup was big. At the end, 'Sheed had a layup - the shot we wanted - and he missed it. What can you do?"

Wallace had 24 points, nine rebounds and a franchise playoff-record seven blocks, but missed a potential game-tying layup in the final seconds.

"I think for the most part, especially that last bunny that I missed, that was a sure bucket I should have made," Wallace said. "I'm going to take this one on the chin. I'm going to put this one on me."

Although Philadelphia needs three more wins to advance, Pistons coach Flip Saunders said his team has to win Game Two.

"When you miss some easy shots, you start worrying about your shots, and then you miss more of them," he said. "We've got to fire back on Wednesday. It's a must-win game now."