Ben Wallace leads Pistons past Wizards
Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace (6) reacts to a slam dunk by Jason Maxiell (54) against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game. (March 21, 2012) Credit: AP
Washington attempted to use, as Washington Post writer Michael Lee put it, a "Wallop-a-Wallace" strategy to beat the Pistons last night.
Big Ben was up to the test.
Wallace, a 34.1 percent free throw shooter on the season, was sent to the line six times in the final 2:17 of what was a close game. He connected on five of the free throws -- after missing his first four attempts earlier in the night -- helping Detroit top Washington, 99-94.
After the game, John Wall told Lee and other reporters of the strategy, "It ain’t your night if [Wallace] goes 5 for 6."
The veteran center also found his way on to the NBA's top five plays from Thursday night with a big swat of John Wall early in the fourth quarter. Wallace finished the game with five points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block in 27 minutes.
The Pistons appeared two other times in the top five, Will Bynum's no-look pass to Rodney Stuckey coming in at No. 3, and a Jason Maxiell jam leading the way.
