The Rockets were on their 4th game in 5 nights, but they managed to hang around until T-Mac and then Yao both left the game in the third quarter with injuries. Yao might have been able to return after getting cut on the head on a collision with his teammate, but the Pistons' starters pushed their lead up 18 by the end of the 3rd quarter to put it out of reach.

Sheed was huge early, and then Dice and Rip led the way in the 3rd quarter. Balanced scoring for the Pistons with 5 guys between 12 and 17 points. The bench struggled early in the 2nd quarter, but Jarvis and JMax got going to help build a bigger lead by halftime. Garbage time was ugly, aside from JMax abusing Mutombo several times before he came out for Amir with about 6 minutes left. Stuckey and Primos both got real playing time in the last 2 minutes of the first half, but they both struggled as the Pistons gave up several points off the lead, with Yao abusing Primos after struggling against very solid D from both Sheed and Dice earlier.