Blazers get past Pistons in Detroit

Darius Miles and the Portland Trail Blazers can give some of the credit for their win over the Pistons to Detroit coach Larry Brown.

In a show of sportsmanship, Brown pulled Miles away from officials as he argued after drawing a technical in the first quarter.

The move proved to be costly for Detroit.

With 0.5 seconds left, Miles converted a free throw to give the Trail Blazers a 75-74 win over the Pistons in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Brown doesn't regret pulling Miles away from the officials.

"Why not?" said Brown when asked if he would do it again. "I don't want to see him get ejected. He's a good kid."

Chauncey Billups tied the game with a 3-pointer with 7.8 seconds left, but Ben Wallace was called for a foul after colliding with Miles, who was driving to the basket.

Brown said the officials got the call right.

"It was a foul," he said. "It was unfortunate, because Ben was trying to make a hustle play after someone lost Darius, but it was a good call."

Miles missed the first shot free-throw attempt, but swished the second.

"That was big pressure — almost like a playoff game," Miles said. "I just wanted to make one of them, but the crowd was going nuts."

Rasheed Wallace's desperation shot at the buzzer bounced off the top of the backboard.

Nick Van Exel and Damon Stoudamire led Portland with 14 points, and Miles added 13.

"This is a big win," Stoudamire said. "To come in here and beat Detroit, especially after playing last night, is big for us."

Rasheed Wallace had 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Billups finished with 16. Richard Hamilton scored 11, but missed 19 of 22 shots.

"They had Theo (Ratliff) in the middle, and I was trying to put something extra on my shots to get them over him," Hamilton said. "I always thought the next one was going in. You have to think that."

Detroit trailed by as many as 15 in the second half and were still down by nine early in the fourth quarter. The Pistons closed within 65-64 with 7:01 left, helped by eight points from Antonio McDyess.

Portland coach Maurice Cheeks wasn't surprised the Pistons hung in.