Playing with a level of energy that was nowhere to be found in the first two games, Ben Wallace and Richard Hamilton led the way as the Pistons thoroughly outplayed the San Antonio Spurs in the second half and won 96-79 Tuesday night in Game 3.
Television ratings have been down and interest has been low, but that might start to change now that the Pistons have made things much more competitive and a little more compelling.
No longer is there a chance for a sweep, and never again will anyone question whether the Pistons can even play with the likes of Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Co.
Ginobili got hurt in the game's first 30 seconds was reduced to a non-factor for the first time in the series, and Duncan could not match the energy or enthusiasm generated by Wallace, the Pistons' Defensive Player of the year. Wallace's dunk with 4:27 left gave Detroit its largest lead, 88-73, and the Pistons held on easily from there.
Now, the Pistons will look to even the series at 2-2 in Game 4 on Thursday night and to ensure that the series will be heading back to Texas.
Hamilton scored 24 points, including 10 in the third quarter when Detroit took the lead for good, and Chauncey Billups added 20 . But although the Pistons got most of their points from their backcourt tandem once again, they were anything but a two-man team.
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