Pistons blast Cavaliers in opener of series

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons made 10 3-pointers in the first half -- one shy of an NBA playoff record -- to open up a 21-point lead at halftime before cruising to a 113-86 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday in Game 1 of their second-round series.

LeBron James scored all of his 22 points in the first half, but had to work for each one. Triple-teamed at times, James was forced to take tough shots or defer to teammates who didn't respond by making shots of their own.

The 21-year-old star didn't play in the fourth quarter after he was held scoreless in the third. Tayshaun Prince made James work on defense, too, scoring 16 of his 24 points in the first half.

Spurs 87, Mavericks 85

SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan scored 20 of his 31 points in the first half to boost his worn-out teammates, and Bruce Bowen topped his stifling defense on Dirk Nowitzki by hitting the game-winning 3-pointer with 2:15 left.

The Spurs were playing just 36 hours after closing out their first-round series in Sacramento, while the Mavs had been off since Monday.

Dallas tied it at 84 on a free throw by Josh Howard, but managed only one free throw the rest of the way. The Mavericks' final possession was ruined by Bowen forcing Nowitzki to pass it to Jerry Stackhouse in the left corner. Tight defense by Manu Ginobili resulted in Stackhouse stepping back for a 3-point try that came up way short.

Nowitzki was 8-of-20 -- and only 1-of-4 in the fourth quarter. Stackhouse led the Mavericks with 24 points.

-- The Associated Press