The box score does not have a typo in it, The Sonics actually did put up 41 first quarter points on 81% shooting at the Palace to start the game off their way. But it didn’t take the Pistons long to to realize that they needed to step it up if they were going to come away with a win. The second quarter told a different story as the Pistons went to business sparked by the Tayshaun Prince’s 24 points and the energy and defense of Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell. The final score Pistons 100 Sonics 97.

Key Points:

• Shocking, but impressive first quarter for The Sonics. Even with their gaudy numbers in the first quarter they finished shooting 45% on the night.
• Excuse me if my recap isn’t as detailed as it normally is (I’m hoping you will fill in the blanks for me) I caught whatever is going around, an not only didn’t go to the game, but had a hard time watching it between blowing my nose and falling asleep.
• Impressive games from Wilcox, Durant and Watson who each scored at least 20 for the Sonics.
• Rip, 5-for-19 shooting for 18 points.
• Tayshaun Prince was the go to guy for the Pistons, leading the team with 24 points , 4 boards, 3 assists a steal and a blocked shot.

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• 5 steals on the night for Chauncey as well as a dagger of a three pointer with about 5 minutes left in the game to finally put the Pistons in charge of this one. Mr. Big Shot finished with 20 points adding 9 assists.
• Breakout game for Amir.
• NBA.com Highlights of the game.
• 27 bench points.
• You have to hand it to Maxi and Amir for this one who changed the tone of the game as soon as they stepped on the floor in the second quarter.
• Theo made his return to The Palace.
• Block Party, 10 on the night for The Pistons including this double.

• Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson played the entire fourth quarter of this game, when it was clearly on the line. Not only did they help The Pistons win this one, but they (mostly Amir) gained valuable crunch time experience. The cynic in me can’t help but think that had we not been playing The Celtics tonight we would have seen Sheed and Dyess out there when the game was on the line. Maybe that’s just me though.
• “Moments after hitting a key shot that helped the Detroit Pistons beat Seattle 100-97, Johnson had to deal with Rasheed Wallace and Jarvis Hayes heckling him while he tried to talk to the media. At one point, Hayes flipped a towel over Johnson’s head while Wallace told him to take his entourage to the interview room.” Via Yahoo Sports
• Amir finished the game with 5 points, 2 blocked shots, 8 boards and 2 steals in 20 minutes on the floor. The Maxiell/Johnson tandem looked wonderful.
• I don’t think so.

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• Everybody loves the youngsters.
• Dixon, Hayes and Afflalo played solid but nothing eye popping. I must however compliment Hayes on his hustle on defense of late.
• Rodney Stuckey put up 5 points, 4 assists and a steal in 15 minutes on the floor. I didn’t think Flip would leave him out there as long as he did in the fourth but I knew right when he threw a pass away Chauncey would be back.
• The Pistons shot just 38% from the floor.
• Rebound war lost 40-47.
• Sometimes I wonder how Maxiell keeps his energy up out there. Sorry Kevin…

• Jason finished the game with 8 points, 9 boards and 3 blocked shots.
• To quote Team Need4Sheed Member The Fluidics “This game was for everybody saying that the Pistons couldn’t “switch it on” anymore.” I am one of those people Fluidics…I hope you’re right.
• The game everyone wants to see is just hours away.