Stuckey, Pistons' defense spoil Rasheed's return to Palace

By Dana Gauruder, for NBA.com
Posted Thursday January 21, 2010 12:29AM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (NBA.com exclusive) -- Rasheed Wallace received a mixed reception in his return to The Palace of Auburn Hills. His current team's performance was also a mixed bag. The Boston Celtics' opportunistic defense helped to build a double-digit lead but their intensity sagged after halftime.

That enabled Rodney Stuckey and the Detroit Pistons to spoil Wallace's first visit since he signed with the Celtics as a free agent over the summer. Stuckey piled up 27 points and grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds as the Pistons won for the fourth time in five games Wednesday, 92-86.

Wallace posted respectable numbers -- 16 points, seven rebounds -- but had layup attempts blocked by ex-teammates Jason Maxiell and Ben Wallace during the Pistons' second-half surge. The Celtics scored 30 points and shot 26.5 percent after halftime while losing their third straight.

"Sometimes we think that just because we're the Celtics and we go into a team's building that they're going to back down," Wallace said. "In order for that to happen, we have to go out there and prove it. We're a good team on paper but other teams get up for us. We're like their measuring stick, being one of the top teams in the East."

Charlie Villanueva, Wallace's replacement in the Pistons' lineup, felt a different vibe on the court and in the building for the occasion.

"I was just into the game, trash talking a little bit," said Villanueva, who scored 10 of his 19 points during the second half. "That's part of the game. I was fired up. I wanted to win this game very badly. It's a good way to start this homestand."

Before the Pistons began their six-game homestand, their longest this season, Rasheed Wallace received as many boos and cheers during the pregame introductions. But 'Sheed heard the applause more than the catcalls.

"It was cool," he said. "It let me know that the fans here still love me as a player."

They also loved how the home team overcame a sloppy first half and turned up the defensive pressure. Wallace had three steals in the first quarter alone as the Pistons committed 15 first-half turnovers, leading to 23 Celtics points.

They had just two giveaways in the second half while forcing 10 Boston turnovers, in large part by abandoning their usual man-to-man defense.

Head coach John Kuester switched to a zone early in the third quarter and that completely disrupted the Celtics' offensive flow. It pushed Boston out on the perimeter and the Celtics' shooters couldn't force the Pistons out of that scheme. The Celtics shot 5-for-19 (26.3 percent) behind the arc.

"We were in that mode where we felt, 'Hey, let's change the game up and see what happens,' " Kuester said. "Guys got into it and did a great job of contesting all the shots."

The zone cooled off Paul Pierce, who scored all but four of his 21 points in the first quarter. Ray Allen never heated up, as he contributed only eight points while committing five of the team's 19 turnovers.

Kevin Garnett missed his 10th straight game with a hyperextended right knee but is expected to play Friday against Portland.

"It is very difficult to turn the switch on and off and, right now, that is what we're doing," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We are dropping games because of it. Like I was saying before the game, I like our record, I just don't like who we are.

"Our guys are frustrated right now, but I told them that we have to do something about this. I think we think that we're a better team than we really are, and we're trying to win games on cruise control."

His counterpart liked how his point guard was locked in mentally from the start. Stuckey attacked Rajon Rondo with drives to the basket and shot jumpers with confidence while coming off screens. His rebounding, which included six offensive boards, was an unexpected addition.

"He played a 'passion' game for me for 48 minutes," Kuester said. "There was passion the whole game from him."

Stuckey struggled with his consistency and focus during Wallace's last season in Detroit but Wallace saw a more confident floor leader Wednesday.

"He had a good teacher in Chauncey (Billups)," he said. "With him becoming more mature, he knows when he has to attack and when to get other guys into the game."

The final lead change came with 7:30 remaining when Stuckey made a 20-foot baseline shot. His pull-up jumper off a screen with 4:26 left gave Detroit a six-point lead.

Rasheed Wallace then posted up Villanueva and made an up-and-under move, only to have the shot swatted by Ben Wallace.

Villanueva's 3-pointer in the final minute gave the Pistons an 88-81 advantage. Jonas Jerebko passed up a 3-point try, then swung the ball to Stuckey at the top of the key, who dished it to Villanueva on the left wing.

"We became unselfish at the end," Kuester said. "We had a couple of scenarios where guys could make the extra pass and when we start doing that, boy, we'll be effective."

• Celtics: Daniels, Garnett
• Pistons: Bynum, Prince

• Celtics: --
• Pistons: Hamilton

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
• Officials: #22 Bill Spooner, #42 Eric Lewis, #81 James Williams
• Attendance: 17375
• Duration: 2:27