AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- The Detroit Pistons could use some of last year's home-court magic to turn around their struggles in the NBA Finals.

After dropping the first two games of the series, the defending champs host the San Antonio Spurs in Game Three on Tuesday.

One year ago, Detroit became the only team to win the middle three games of the NBA Finals since the 2-3-2 format was instituted in 1984. The Pistons swept their three contests here against the Los Angeles Lakers to capture their third NBA title.

San Antonio has shown why it was the league's top defensive squad (88.4) this season by holding the Pistons to an average of fewer than 73 points in the first two contests. After trailing 17-4 early in Game One, the Spurs have outscored Detroit by 49 points.

Manu Ginobili scored 15 of his 27 points in the second half and led five players in double figures as the Spurs posted a 97-76 victory over the Pistons on Sunday.

Tim Duncan scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Bruce Bowen added 15 for San Antonio, which shot 59 percent (20-of-34) from the floor in the first half.

Although the Pistons were the second-best defensive team in the league (89.5) in the regular season, they surrendered 58 points in the first half and gave up 11 3-pointers on Sunday.

Antonio McDyess came off the bench to score 12 of his 15 points in the first half, Richard Hamilton had 14 and Chauncey Billups 13 for Detroit, which had a 45-36 rebounding edge.

The Pistons are looking to join the 1969 Boston Celtics and the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers as the only teams to win the NBA Finals after dropping the first two games.

The only defending NBA champions who were swept in the Finals the following season are the 1983 and 1989 Lakers.

Game Four will be at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Thursday.