By Josh Cohen

May 21, 2007: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Richard Hamilton posted 24 points and seven assists in Detroit's 79-76 Game 1 victory over Cleveland in the East Finals. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/NBAE
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"I go for the winning play. The winning play when two guys come at you and a teammate is open is to give it up. It's as simple as that."

-- LeBron James on his pass to Donyell Marshall for a 3-point try in the final seconds of Monday's Game 1 loss.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Monday's top play: LeBron James flushes home a one-handed slam.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
  • Block of the Night
    		•
  • BlackBerry Assist of the Night
  • Steal of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    It's difficult to argue who the hottest player of late has been in the playoffs. Manu Ginobili has been pretty much unstoppable with 26, 33, and 23 points, respectively, in his last three games. My advice for you is to take the Argentinean for your Drive to the Finals lineup. But if you need more suggestions, check out who the experts think will be a stat-sheet star on Tuesday night.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Richard Hamilton, Pistons
    79-76 win vs. Cavs
    24 pts, 11-21 FG, 2-3 3-pt FG

    Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavs
    79-76 loss at Pistons
    22 pts, 9-17 FG, 4-4 FT

    Rasheed Wallace, Pistons
    79-76 win vs. Cavs
    15 pts, 7-13 FG
    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    Zydrunas Ilgauskas and the Cavaliers want to continue a pattern. In the past four seasons, the lower-seeded team in the Eastern Conference Finals managed to win the series and advance to the championship round. Ilgauskas, in Game 1 against the Pistons, did his part with 22 points, 13 rebounds, a block and a steal, but Cleveland couldn't pull it out in the final seconds of Monday's 79-76 road defeat.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    LeBron James, Cavs
    79-76 loss at Pistons
    5-15 FG, 0-0 FT 10 pts

    Tayshaun Prince, Pistons
    79-76 win vs. Cavs
    1-11 FG, 8 pts

    Sasha Pavlovic, Cavs
    79-76 loss at Pistons
    4-14 FG, 1-3 3-pt FG, 0-2 FT, 9 pts
    MR. BIG SHOT & MR. BIG STOPPER
    Chauncey Billups is nicknamed Mr. Big Shot for his historic clutch performances late in games. Tayshaun Prince, who is the only active NBA player with at least three years experience to appear in the conference finals every season he has been in the league, seized his own nickname Monday; Mr. Big Stopper. 'The Prince’ limited the ‘The King’ (LeBron James) to a postseason career-low 10 points, while Billups buried two 3-pointers late to help propel Detroit to a 79-76 Game 1 triumph over Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. Donyell Marshall, meanwhile for the Cavs, misfired on a potential game-winning triple in the final seconds. The Pistons, who are the first team since the Bulls (1989-1993) to be in the conference finals for the fifth straight season, will look to maintain home-court advantage on Thursday in Game 2 at 8 ET on TNT.
    READY FOR A GAME OF PING PONG?
    It’s historically fascinating that the Grizzlies (25%) and Celtics (19.9%) each have the best probability of obtaining the No. 1 overall pick in Tuesday’s NBA Draft lottery. In 1997, Boston had the highest percentage chance of securing the top selection. The Spurs, however, defeated the odds and attained the first pick to draft Tim Duncan, who thus far in his illustrious 10-year career has won three NBA championships and earned two MVP awards. In 2003, Memphis, which would have ultimately only made a selection if it obtained the No. 1 pick (6.4%) due to trade agreements with Detroit, came in second. The Cavaliers, as a result, struck gold with the first choice and selected superstar LeBron James. Now, while Duncan and LeBron play in the conference finals, the Grizzlies and Celtics await their lottery luck.