Pistons take 2-0 edge

Detroit decks Milwaukee, 109-98

? The Detroit Pistons have made two major improvements over their recent runs to the NBA Finals: offense, and playing Game 2s.

Tayshaun Prince scored 22 points and Chauncey Billups had 20 to lead Detroit to a 109-98 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, and a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.

The two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Pistons had lost three straight Game 2s and four of their last five, dating to the 2004 NBA Finals. Before that stretch, Detroit lost to Milwaukee two years ago in the second game of their first-round series en route to the title.

“We knew all about that,” Billups said. “The difference with us now is that we’re going to stay aggressive throughout each series, and we’re not going to get overconfident if we win Game 1s.”

Detroit appeared motivated from the start, a bad sign for the Bucks, and a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter gave the Pistons a cushion they maintained for the rest of the night.

“We’re not playing Milwaukee – we’re playing ourselves,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. “If guys have that approach, you won’t have letdowns.”

Bucks standout Michael Redd bounced back from an 11-point game with 29.

“We made adjustments to try to get me open in better positions,” Redd said.

But Redd didn’t get much help in the first half as Milwaukee’s other starters each scored six or fewer points before halftime. T.J. Ford was Redd’s only teammate to finish with more than 10 points.

Mavericks 94, Grizzlies 79

Dallas – The Grizzlies went 16 straight possessions without a point and 10:47 between baskets over the middle two quarters, taking them out of what had been a close game and sending Dallas to a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points to drop Memphis to 0-10 in its postseason history; that’s four more losses than any NBA team has ever had before its first victory. The Grizzlies will head home for Game 3 on Saturday halfway to being swept for the third straight year.

Memphis actually started great, getting Pau Gasol rolling early and not making a turnover the entire first quarter.

Lakers 99, Suns 93

Phoenix – Kobe Bryant had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Lamar Odom scored 21 points, and Los Angeles held off a late rally to beat Phoenix and square the best-of-seven series 1-1. Game 3 is Friday night in Los Angeles.

Steve Nash had 29 points and Raja Bell 23 for the Suns, who shot 43 percent – 34 percent in the first half.

Los Angeles led by as many as 17 points late in the second quarter and early in the third after Phoenix went nearly 71â2 minutes without a point.

Phoenix went 7:22 without scoring while the Lakers reeled off 19 points to open a 38-22 lead on Jim Jackson’s 20-footer with 6:17 left in the half.