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Pistons rout Bobcats in wake of big trade

Nov 4, 2008 - 3:54 AM By Derek Smith PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- It was business as usual for the Detroit Pistons on Monday night - just hours after dealing a trio of players, including All-Star guard Chauncey Billups.

Richard Hamilton scored 19 points as the Pistons won their third straight game to start the season with a 101-83 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats and former head coach Larry Brown.

"The most important thing about us is that we're going to go out and play regardless," Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince said. "We are all shocked by the situation, but we're going to go out and play. Under the circumstances, I thought it was a good win for us. No matter who you play, when something like this happens to a team, it's tough to go out there and play."

Detroit set in motion a major overhaul of its roster Monday afternoon, acquiring nine-time All-Star Allen Iverson from the Denver Nuggets for Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb.

"When you've had six straight years of somebody, you've got that bond and that connection, and now all of a sudden it's gone," Prince said. "I don't know. I know what they expect from me and I don't think that will change."

Iverson is expected to be in uniform Wednesday night in Toronto upon the completion of a physical Tuesday in Detroit.

"We just felt it was the right time to change our team," Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said. "Iverson gives us a dimension that we haven't had here, and we really think it's going to help us."

The Pistons used a balanced scoring attack to remain undefeated, with Hamilton leading six players in double figures.

Detroit built a 12-point edge in the first quarter, 23-12, after a basket from Amir Johnson with 1:14 to play and trailed for a total of just 78 seconds in the game.

"It's a tough day when one of our captains (Billups) gets traded and McDyess, who is not one of our captains but one of the emotional leaders of this team, it's a tough day for these guys," Detroit coach Michael Curry said. "So, for them to come out and play the way they did, we're proud of them.

"That's what we expect, they've got to come out and play. Regardless of the situation, we've got to get the job done."

The Bobcats took the lead one last time on Raymond Felton's free throw after Rasheed Wallace was whistled for a technical foul with 8:32 to play in the third. The Pistons responded with a 17-4 run in which all five starters scored - including Rodney Stuckey, who capped the run with a driving layup with 3:59 to play.

Guard Will Bynum scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, playing the role of back-up point guard after not dressing in the Pistons first two games. Bynum and Stuckey both made their case for time at the point once the addition of Iverson is complete. Stuckey scored nine points while collecting three assists and four rebounds.

"We will roll with the guys that are hot," Curry said. "We did a great job with the front five sitting out in the fourth quarter."

Shannon Brown led the Bobcats with 16 points off the bench while Gerald Wallace added 15 and 12 rebounds.

"I just tried to go out there and do whatever it took for us to get a win," Brown said.