76ers Fall To Pistons In Regular Season Finale
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Ben Gordon scored 26 points, including eight 3-pointers, to help the Detroit Pistons rout the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers 108-86 Thursday night in the season finale.
Philadelphia entered the game with a mathematical chance at the Eastern Conference's seventh seed, but didn't make much of an effort. Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams all sat out the game in order to rest for Saturday's postseason opener against top-seeded Chicago.
Spencer Hawes led the 76ers with 16, while Jodie Meeks had 15.
The night was filled with tributes to Detroit's Ben Wallace, who announced his retirement earlier in the season. Wallace, who set an NBA record for games by an undrafted player, finished with seven points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
Wallace left the game late in the third quarter, but checked back in for the final 90 seconds as the crowd chanted "We Want Ben!"
The Pistons led 26-15 lead after the first quarter and blew the game open in the second. Detroit tied an NBA record with 11 3-pointers in the quarter, including a franchise-record seven from Gordon, and led 65-43 at halftime.
Gordon hit another long jumper at the end of the third quarter — his first 2-point shot of the game — to give the Pistons a 86-66 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.
NOTES: Wallace finished with 529 double-rebound games. He is the Pistons' career blocks leader, second in steals and third in rebounds. ... All of the Pistons players wore Wallace's trademark blue headband. ... Brand, Iguodala and Young arrived at the arena just before game time. They didn't make the trip to Milwaukee for Wednesday's game, but joined the team in Detroit. Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said before the game it was too risky leaving the trio at home, since the 76ers didn't know if they would open the playoffs in Chicago or Miami.
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