Lopsided series makes history

The Pistons and the Spurs set a record with the first three games won by 15 or more points.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- One of these days, both the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons will bring their "A" game to the NBA Finals on the same night. It hasn't happened yet, but there are still as many as four chances left for the teams to click at the same time.

Detroit's 96-79 victory in Game 3 on Tuesday night was the third straight lopsided final score, making this series a historical oddity.

Never before in the finals have the first three games been decided by 15 points or more.

"It just seems like there's four- or five-minute stretches of games where teams are taking control, but the games will get closer," Spurs guard Brent Barry said.

The NBA can only hope so.

Overnight television ratings were down 31 percent from Game 3 of the Lakers-Pistons series a year ago, and the rating for Game 2 was off 35.5 percent from last year.

The series has become a little more compelling now that the prospect of a sweep has been removed from the equation.

The Spurs seemed eager Wednesday to prove that their performance in Game 3 was a hiccup.

"At this point, I think the team that plays the smartest is going to win," Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince said.

He also could have mentioned that the team that brings the higher level of energy will win. That's certainly been the case over the first three games, and both teams are puzzled as to why the intensity level hasn't been more constant.

"I don't know, usually you do expect games with the two teams that are left to be, you know, real competitive," Pistons coach Larry Brown said.