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Friday, November 25, 2005 at The Palace of Auburn Hills

Detroit Pistons 114, Washington Wizards 120, 2OT

Pistons 114, Wizards 120, 2OT
Boxscore | Recap
November 25, 2005
The Palace of Auburn Hills, MI
Points:(DET) R. Wallace, 33
(WAS) G. Arenas, 39
Rebounds:(DET) B. Wallace, 16
(WAS) A. Jamison, 20
Assists:(DET) C. Arroyo, 8
(WAS) G. Arenas, 8
Blocks:(DET) Two tied, 2
(WAS) G. Arenas, 2
Player of the Game
Rasheed Wallace
Points: 33
Rebounds: 11
Assists: 5
Blocks: 2
Minutes: 56
POSTGAME QUOTES
Pistons Head Coach Flip Saunders

On the game:
“That was one of those that sometimes how you start is how you finish. We started bad, we didn’t have enough confidence, we let them get into a rhythm and it seems like were fighting for the next 58 minutes we were basically fighting up hill to try and catch up.”

On the plays:
“We had some pretty good looks up until a point where McDyess had a lay up and basically missed it, it was kind of our night in a nutshell, but we executed better then, than we did in the first quarter. In the first quarter we didn’t do as well as far as execution.”

On the play of Chucky Atkins:
“We didn’t locate him quick enough and the last shot he made was the bomb and he has made a few in this building before. I told our guys that if Chucky comes in, he is going to come in firing and that’s usually what guys do when they get traded.”

Pistons Guard Chauncey Billups

On the game:
“We kept fighting. We had so many opportunities, we just couldn’t get over that hump. You’ve got to give them credit, they came in to a tough place (to play) and kept fighting and won.”

On playing against Chucky Atkins:
“Yeah, that’s my guy. I love Chucky to death and I was happy to see him get it going, just not on us. He’s been struggling for a little bit but he got cooking tonight. When he got going, I was just trying to tech him and get him out of the game as fast as possible.”

On the blocking foul against Gilbert Arenas as time expired in regulation:
“Man, I didn’t agree with it. I’m sure that when they watch the tape they’ll feel the same way. I thought I made a great play. I bottled him up and he kind of lost control of the ball and I was waiting there for him. We had a lot of opportunities; we just couldn’t get it going.”

Pistons Center Ben Wallace

On the game:
“It was a tough one, but we had our opportunities to win it. We just let it slip away. It’ll make it real tough for tomorrow.”

On his thoughts at the line in the first overtime:
“I’ve been in that situation all the time.”

On the energy of the game:
“I think we overreacted to their little zone from the start. We started to figure it out and force the ball down into the post to ‘Sheed and get ‘Sheed going. Once we started to do that, things started opening up for us.”

On the upcoming game against Milwaukee:
“You know it’s tough. We just have to come prepared. Look to run when we get the opportunity. For the most part, we need to get our defense set and force them to go against a set defense.”

Wizards Head Coach Eddie Jordan

“We weren’t looking at history, we were looking at position by position tonight. Our guys really stepped it up for each other, they supported and protected each other, and we stayed disciplined when the Pistons brought the heat. Credit to our guys for being resilient and picking themselves up after falling down after five straight losses, it was a very important learning process for us tonight.”

On Arenas:
“He was out there tonight with a bum knee playing defense and being the quarterback for us. That is as important to me as his scoring is; he is a leader on the floor. A guy that keeps up on the offensive set and continues to improve on his defense. His will to win is why the great ones are great.”

Wizards Guard Gilbert Arenas

“We got out to a real fast start and they came back like they usually do, but this time we fought with all of our energy. As a team we did great, nobody bowed down, nobody thought we were going to win this game, but we got a group of guys who aren’t going to lie down for anyone.

“We got ahead of ourselves after we got that seven point lead, we remember in the past blowing leads to them, they’ve beat us plenty of times when we had big leads. The way Chucky came out and carried us in that third quarter, and from there, it was hard, but we did it.”

Wizards Guard Chucky Atkins

“We get into a rhythm, we got out and the fast break and I kept finding myself open. Once some shots start falling in and you’re a shooter things just keep going well for you.”

On Arenas:
“Gilbert Arenas is a All-Star, the guy has a tremendous amount of talent and he’s only 23 years old and he’s fearless.”