Game 41: Dallas @ Detroit // Fri. 7pm on ESPN

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If the only thing you knew about the Mavericks-Pistons game Sunday was that Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton combined for 19 points and shot 8 for 25, would you have thought the Pistons won? By 23 points? Didn't think so. But that is exactly what happened. Rasheed Wallace (21 points) and Tayshaun Prince (16) picked up the offensive slack, the defense was stellar, and the Pistons got a comfortable 90-67 victory. "Rasheed was aggressive, focused and hungry," Billups said. "You know, myself and Rip didn't have it going but when 'Sheed is playing like that, he can get us over the hump. He always has that ability and we just got on his back and rode him."

Rodney Stuckey has simplified things, and it is paying off. He had a career-best 11 points Sunday, scoring most off hard drives to the basket. "I am just getting back to my mind-set of being aggressive," he said. "When I come off screens, I feel I can beat my man to the basket. That's what the coaches have been after me to do and that's what I am doing." The Pistons reserves outscored the Mavericks, 32-17. "All of the guys coming off our bench, they all work so hard and it's nice to see that work pay off," coach Flip Saunders said. "When you see guys working that hard, you want to reward those guys." The bench run was capped by a five-point burst at the end by Walter Herrmann . "He did what he always does, he played hard," Saunders said. "I think Walter can play in this league, and for us."

Primoz Brezec (flu) did not play. Flip Murray was activated for the first time since Dec. 16 but didn't play.

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The key was a relentless Pistons defense that involved more switching than usual on pick-and-rolls and an aggressive approach to handling reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki."They did a number on us down there in Dallas with the same plays," forward Rasheed Wallace said. "We came out lackadaisical. But tonight, we had a little bit of energy, and we just stepped up on the screen-and-rolls. Our guards got over some of their picks, and it was clockwork from there."

Without much pick-and-roll play to free himself from contact, Nowitzki finished with 15 points, shooting 3-for-18 from the field. He looked frustrated from the first half on and walked off the floor at halftime shaking his arm and yelling at officials after being guarded closely by Jason Maxiell"When we are playing our best, that's how we play," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders, who called Sunday's defense the best he has seen on Nowitzki in his time with the Pistons. "We play physical, we get after it, we make teams react to what we do, and we don't stay back. We become more proactive."

Small forward Tayshaun Prince scored 16 points, and forward Antonio McDyess had 11 rebounds."It was a great defensive effort, especially against a great offensive team that has a lot of shooters, a lot of weapons," point guard Chauncey Billups said. "We looked forward to this game because they really pinned us down good there in Dallas, and we looked forward to getting them back here."

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On Saturday, when asked how to beat the Mavericks, Rasheed Wallace said, "They don't have anyone used to guarding post-up players. We have to run a lot of post plays." Pistons coach Flip Saunders had a chuckle at that comment Sunday.

"Well, we'll see if he can get his (butt) in there," Saunders said. "That's our game plan every time; it's just a matter of getting a cattle prod to keep him away from that three-point line. It's like he thinks there's one of those dog fences out there, and he can't get inside that thing."

That prod must have been working Sunday. Wallace shot 14 of his 18 attempts from inside the three-point line.

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Before Sunday's game, Pistons coach Flip Saunders thought he'd have to go back to Walter Herrmann to defend Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki. Herrmann irritated Nowitzki and was the lone bright spot in the Pistons' 102-86 loss to the Mavericks in January. But with the Pistons' stellar defensive effort Sunday, Saunders didn't need Herrmann until the final minutes. Herrmann used his time well, scoring five points on two shots.

"We put him in in the end, and he did the same thing he always does -- he plays hard," Saunders said. "I think Walter can play in this league and play for us. Right now, we are in a situation where a lot of guys are playing, and he is just going to have to keep on working, which he will do."

One reason Herrmann wasn't needed was a spirited game by forward Jason Maxiell. He hadn't looked as energetic in many recent games, but his four-point, five-rebound performance Sunday was filled with the kind of hustle and pop that doesn't always show on the stat sheet."He had good energy," Saunders said. "It seems like he had about four rebounds where I think his fingertips, with his little hands, he just couldn't get them in. But he gave us that great energy and great physicality."

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime ... ime-080204

Sunday's Best Rasheed Wallace, Pistons forward:He had 21 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the 90-67 rout of the Mavs. "When Rasheed is ready, motivated and focused, he can dominate anyone he plays," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said.