Utah Jazz's Deron Williams (right) puts pressure on Golden State Warriors' Baron Davis during the first half of Game One of their NBA Western Conference semi-final in Salt Lake City on Monday night. Utah won 116-112. - Reuters
DETROIT (Reuters):
THE DETROIT Pistons' overpowering scoring and strong defence lifted them to a crushing 108-87 win over the Chicago Bulls and a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series on Monday night.
Tayshaun Prince scored 25 points, Richard Hamilton, 24, and Chris Webber, 22, as the Pistons posted their second straight one-sided win.
"Our mind frame was to come out and be aggressive defensively and offensively and just try to impose our will on them," Webber said.
That the Pistons did, scoring 34 points in the first quarter to take a 16-point lead on 63.6 per cent shooting. The advantage increased to 24 in the second quarter.
Games not competitive
"The thing that's most surprising is both games haven't been competitive," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "Both times from the jump ball, they've owned us all over the floor."
The victory was the sixth straight in the play-offs for the Pistons, who swept the Orlando Magic in four games in their opening series.
"I've seen an intensity in the locker room that is higher than I ever expected," Webber said. "And I see it becoming more intense every game ...We want this."
Tyrus Thomas topped the Bulls with 18 points, 12 coming in the fourth quarter, and Luol Deng added 16.
Game Three of the best-of-seven series is in Chicago tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, Carlos Boozer broke a tie with 17 seconds remaining as the Utah Jazz turned back the visiting Golden State Warriors 116-112 in the opening game of their Western Conference semi-final series.
Boozer, who had 17 points and 20 rebounds, put the Jazz in front 114-112 with his put-back shot, and the Warriors did not answer.
Two free throws by the Jazz's Matt Harpring closed out the scoring.
Deron Williams led Utah with 31 points. Harping and Mehmet Okur added 21 each.
Baron Davis paced the Warriors with 24 points. Jason Richardson and Al Harrington had 21 each and Matt Barnes scored 20.
Game Two is in Salt Lake City tonight.
