Quarterly Reports Game 4

First – The Pistons got off to the fast start in this one, scoring the game’s first 10 points – eight of them from Antonio McDyess. Boston started 1 of 9 from the field. The Pistons led by eight to 12 points for most of the quarter, even though Tayshaun Prince (1 of 5) and Chauncey Billups (1 of 5) both missed at least a few good looks that could have stretched the lead even wider. Jarvis Hayes, who had yet to appear in the series, came on for Prince with four minutes left in the quarter, got two minutes, picked up two fouls and shot an air ball. Both Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins picked up two early fouls. Active defense led to five Boston turnovers in the first eight minutes. The Pistons also missed three free throws – two by Billups – while Boston made 11 of 11. The Celtics went 3 of 14 for the quarter with five turnovers and still came out of it behind by only five. Score: PISTONS 22, Boston 17.

Second – Jason Maxiell scored on a dunk off a Lindsey Hunter steal, a nice baseline turnaround and a Stuckey lob as the Pistons went on an 11-2 run to open the quarter, leading by 14. Boston went on an 8-0 run, getting two Perkins baskets, before a McDyess jump shot. Kevin Garnett picked up offensive fouls on consecutive possessions. McDyess picked up two quick fouls and left at 4:15. When Perkins missed a free throw with 3:59 left, it was Boston’s first after 13 makes. After taking only two shots, Hamilton scored baskets on consecutive possessions. Boston scored the last six points of the quarter to get to halftime trailing by just four despite making only 11 baskets and turning over 11 times for the half. Score: PISTONS 43, Boston 39.

Third – The Pistons went on the first run of the third quarter, 8-0 after Boston had twice cut the lead to two points – getting baskets from every starter but Billups. Wallace picked up his third and fourth fouls at 7:12 and 7:03. When Billups picked one up at 6:48, Danny Crawford hit Flip Saunders with a technical. Ray Allen made three free throws to snap the run. Hamilton picked up his fourth with 5:56 left – the foul count was 23-13 at that point and when Allen made two more foul shots, it gave Boston 24 of its 48 points at the line. Boston went on a 6-2 run to close the quarter to enter the fourth trailing by seven. Score: PISTONS 65, Boston 48.

Fourth - Wallace and Hamilton, each with four fouls, came back to start the quarter. Prince picked up his fourth at 11:25. Wallace picked up his fifth with 10:18 just seconds after making a tough turnaround for a 67-60 lead and had to sit. Maxiell hit two free throws and a jumper around a huge corner triple from Posey, then connected again with 8:17 left. Boston went scoreless on three straight possessions before a Hamilton hoop gave the Pistons a nine-point lead at 6:20. Boston then got baskets on three straight trips to cut it to five at 4:50. Billups came on for Stuckey and Wallace returned for Maxiell then. Hamilton then picked up his fifth when he ran over Allen. A string of three empty possessions ended when Wallace hit two fouls shots after Perkins picked up his sixth foul at 3:23. A Billups triple 30 seconds later made it a 10-point lead. Hamilton scored six straight points to nail it down as the Pistons finished with an 11-0 flourish. Score: PISTONS 94, Boston 75.