Pistons thrash tired Lakers 103-81
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-11 16:00

In a rematch of the NBA Finals, the result was the same — a thorough thrashing of the Los Angeles Lakers by the Detroit Pistons.

Rasheed Wallace had 23 points and a season-high 15 rebounds and Tayshaun Prince scored 25 points as Detroit got off to a strong start and routed the Lakers 103-81 Thursday night in their first meeting since last June.

Detroit Pistons' Ben Wallace drives on Los Angeles Lakers' Chris Mihm (31), right, as Lamar Odom watches in the first period in Auburn Hills, Mich., Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005. [AP]

The Pistons looked a lot like the team that disposed of Los Angeles in five games while winning by an average margin of 13 points, while the Lakers bear almost no resemblance to their predecessors from last season.

The Pistons moved a half-game ahead of Cleveland in the Central Division standings with their sixth win in seven games. They led by 14 points less than 5 minutes into a game that was never in doubt.

Los Angeles is 1-4 under interim coach Frank Hamblen, who replaced Rudy Tomjanovich when he suddenly resigned, and is 6-8 since Kobe Bryant went down with a sprained ankle. Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 17 points and Caron Butler had 12. In his first game against his former team, Lakers guard Chucky Atkins scored just three points — 10 below his average — on 1-of-7 shooting.

Bryant wouldn't guess when he'll return, but said he plans on running during Saturday's practice after resting his ankle for a few days. Bryant was booed each time he was shown on the videoboard above the court.

Detroit's Chauncey Billups had 15 points and a season-high 11 assists, Ben Wallace grabbed 15 rebounds, Richard Hamilton scored 11 and the Pistons had a season-high 30 assists.

Not only are the Pistons clearly a better team than the Lakers, they were also much more rested. Detroit had a game for just the second time in eight days while the Lakers played their fourth in five nights.

Detroit jumped out to an 18-2 lead as the Lakers had more turnovers (two) than field goals (one) and led 30-12 after the first quarter, outrebounding them 22-11.

The Pistons were ahead by as much as 26 in the second quarter and 27 in the third before coasting with reserves in the final quarter.

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