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Sat Dec 18, 2004 · 8:30 PM
Portland Trail BlazersBlazers
100
away
Chemistry Hot
Detroit PistonsPistons
88
home
Chemistry Cold

Box Score

TEAM Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 FINAL
Portland Trail BlazersBlazers 22 18 31 29 100
Detroit PistonsPistons 28 21 23 16 88

After Action Report

In Detroit, the Trail Blazers outlasted the Pistons 100-88. The Trail Blazers won despite a cold shooting night — grit beat polish. Second-chance points piled up for the Trail Blazers; fresh off a statement win, the Trail Blazers stayed locked in. The Trail Blazers bench chemistry carried them. Pistons' per-player workload didn't match the gameplan. Ugly, but it counts the same in the standings.

What tipped it

  • Pistons · Locker-Room Rift Tension in the locker room — poor ball movement and streaky play.
  • Trail Blazers · Glass Eaters Crashing the boards generates extra possessions and second-chance buckets.
  • Trail Blazers · Statement Win Last time out, a 20+ point beating sent a message.
  • Trail Blazers · Tight-Knit Locker-room chemistry is humming — extra trust on every possession.