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Payton, Not Shaq, puts Heat on Lakers
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-26 08:50

Brian Cook's 3-pointer with 1:59 left in the period �� the Lakers' first in 14 tries to that point �� gave his team a 70-65 lead, but Miami scored the final five points of the quarter and tied it at 70 when Antoine Walker backed Odom down and scored with 10.8 seconds remaining, setting up the wild fourth quarter.

Stingy Pistons offer no gifts to Spurs

San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, left, prepares to drive to the basket against Detroit Pistons' Ben Wallace during the first half of their NBA basketball game on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 25, 2005, in Auburn Hills, Mich.
San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, left, prepares to drive to the basket against Detroit Pistons' Ben Wallace during the first half of their NBA basketball game on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 25, 2005, in Auburn Hills, Mich. [AP]
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - In their first matchup since the NBA Finals, Detroit proved dominant in a defensive struggle against San Antonio.

Chauncey Billups scored 20 points and the Pistons held the Spurs to their lowest-scoring first quarter Sunday before winning 85-70, the seventh straight victory for Detroit. The Spurs missed 13 of their last 14 shots in the opening period.

The game featuring the defending champion Spurs and the 2004 champion Pistons was the opener in the NBA's annual Christmas doubleheader, lacking the Shaq-Kobe hype in the Miami Heat- Los Angeles Lakers matchup later in the day.

"We're very honored, but we realize it is a great responsibility to play in the JV game," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich joked before the game. "We have to do a good job to make sure the fans stay around to watch the varsity game."

Detroit has won 13 of 14 games and improved to an NBA-best 22-3. The Spurs have lost three of five, but their 21-7 record is the league's second best.

Ben Wallace had 10 points and a season-high 21 rebounds and reserve Antonio McDyess added 10 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for the Pistons. Rasheed Wallace scored 14 points and Richard Hamilton had 11.

San Antonio's Tony Parker scored 19 points and Tim Duncan had 18 points and 11 points.

With Manu Ginobili missing his eighth straight game with a sprained right foot, Parker and Duncan didn't have much help. Reserve Nazr Mohammed had 10 points, the only other San Antonio player who scored in double figures. Michael Finley, who replaced Ginobili in the starting lineup, had three points on 1-of-7 shooting.

Detroit led by 10 points after holding the Spurs to eight points, their fewest first-quarter points in franchise history and a total that matched their low from any quarter.
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