Wizards Report

Last night at Palace of Auburn Hills (Mich.)

SEEN AND HEARD

Is it possible the Detroit Pistons might be better now than they were when Larry Brown led them to the NBA Finals for a second straight year last season?

This is pretty much the same team. However, the biggest difference is former Minnesota coach Flip Saunders has replaced Brown at coach. Going into the game, the Pistons were averaging more points (99.3) than they did last season (93.3); shooting a better percentage from the floor (47.5 to 44.4); moving the basketball better (24.4 assists to 21.8); and, surprisingly, allowing less than one more point (90.4 to 89.5) than they did last season.

“We’re getting a chance to run more,” said a Pistons player who did not want to be named. “I think we could have scored like this last season, but that wasn’t Larry’s way of doing things.

BY THE NUMBERS

17 Points by which the Wizards led in the first half.

KEY TO THE GAME

The Wizards converted 14 of 16 free throws in the second overtime.

— John N. Mitchell