'Sheed delivers miracle shot, Pistons drop Nuggets in OT By Paul Levine

dpa German Press Agency Published: Tuesday March 27, 2007

By Paul Levine,
Los Angeles- The Detroit Pistons were in need of a miracle
and Rasheed Wallace delivered one in the nick of time.
Wallace banked in a desperation buzzer-beating 60-foot heave to
force overtime, and added eight points in the extra session, sparking
the Pistons to an improbable 113-109 home-court victory over the
stunned Denver Nuggets on Monday night.

"We shoot those all the time before the game," said Wallace, who
netted 16 of his 22 points in the final quarter and overtime. "This
one went in."

The Nuggets led 98-95 with 1.5 seconds remaining and called a
20-second timeout to bring the ball into the frontcourt. All they had
to do was inbound the ball and let the clock run out.

Instead, Tayshaun Prince poked the inbounds pass away from Allen
Iverson along the right sideline. Wallace picked up the loose ball
and launched a two-hander that kissed off the glass, sending the
Pistons' fans into a frenzy.

"I said in the timeout strange things can happen and sure enough
something strange really happened," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said.
"As soon as it left his hands I thought it was in.

"That's a miracle shot. That shot is going to happen once in a
million times."

Nuggets coach George Karl refused to put the blame on his players.
Instead, he chalked it up to luck.

"I'm not going to criticize whose fault it is or who did what
wrong," he said. "You can't criticize a lucky shot. You give him a
100 and he won't make one."

Detroit trailed 104-100 in the overtime before Wallace ran off six
straight points, including a 3-pointer that knotted score at
106-apiece with 59 seconds remaining.

After Antonio McDyess hit the go-ahead free throw, Wallace and
Chauncey Billups added two apiece to send the Nuggets to their 11th
straight loss at Detroit since 1995.

Billups had a season-high 34 points and 10 assists, McDyess added
20 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who won without flu-ridden
starters Rick Hamilton and Chris Webber.

"Sheed carried us to this one," Billups said. "The shot at the end
of regulation, then the three in overtime, then the free throws."

Marcus Camby led the Nuggets with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while
Brazil's Nene finished with 21 and 17 boards.

Elsewhere:

Orlando Magic 94, New York Knicks 89
Jameer Nelson scored 18 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer
with 39 seconds left, helping the visiting Magic move into sole
possession of seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Stephon Marbury scored 32 points for the Knicks, whose fourth
straight loss dropped them two games behind New Jersey for the eighth
and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Utah Jazz 103, Washington Wizards 97
Carlos Boozer erupted for 36 of his career-high 41 points in the
second half to go along with 16 rebounds, rallying the Jazz to its
sixth straight home win.

Gilbert Arenas scored 32 points for the Wizards, whose third
straight loss dropped them behind the Heat for Southeast Division
supremacy.

Miami Heat 106, Atlanta Hawks 89
Shaquille O'Neal powered for 22 points to become the league's 12th
all-time leading scorer, and the Heat clipped the Hawks for the 18th
time in the last 21 meetings

Salim Stoudamire netted 22 points in the Hawks' fourth straight
setback.

Boston Celtics 95, Toronto Raptors 87
Paul Pierce scored 23 points and Al Jefferson had 22 as the
Celtics tripped the visiting Raptors to snap a three-game slide.

T.J. Ford led Atlantic Division Toronto with 28 points. Spanish
rookie Jorge Garbajosa was carried off the court on a stretcher late
in the game after dislocating his left ankle while trying to block
Jefferson's dunk.

Houston Rockets 106, Milwaukee Bucks 87
Tracy McGrady and China's Yao Ming scored 22 points apiece,
helping the Rockets clinch a playoff berth with their sixth straight
home victory.

Michael Redd scored 26 points for the Bucks, who have dropped
seven in a row in Houston since 1999.

Phoenix Suns 105, Memphis Grizzlies 87
Raja Bell buried six 3-pointers en route to 29 points, while Amare
Stoudemire had 27 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Suns rout the
short-handed Grizzlies.

Spain's Pau Gasol had 21 points and 10 rebounds for league-worst
Memphis (17-54), which was without starters injured Mike Miler and
Damon Stoudemire .

Chicago Bulls 100, Portland Trail Blazers 89
Luol Deng scored a career-high 38 points, carrying the Bulls to
their third straight win.

Rookie LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland with 20 points, but top
rookie Brandon Roy missed the contest to attend the birth of his
first child.

San Antonio Spurs 126, Golden State Warriors 89
Frenchman Tony Parker, Michael Finley and Tim Duncan scored 20
points apiece, leading the visiting Spurs to their 17th victory in 19
games.

Monta Ellis and Baron Davis scored 17 points apiece for the
Warriors, who were dominated 66-36 in the middle two periods in the
blowout.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

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