Pistons 78, Nets 56
The Detroit Pistons shut down New Jersey so thoroughly that the Nets nearly broke the record for fewest points in a playoff game.
Dominating with the same smothering defense that set records this season, the Pistons got 15 points from Tayshaun Prince and defeated the Nets 78-56 Monday night in a game that featured the lowest-scoring first half in NBA playoff history.
The loss snapped New Jersey's string of 14 consecutive postseason victories against Eastern Conference teams since last April. The Nets now have until Game 2 on Friday night to figure a way to solve a defense that held them to 25 first-half points.
Only reserve Tamar Slay's jumper with 42 seconds left allowed the Nets to avoid tying the lowest playoff total in league history -- 54 points by Utah against Chicago during the 1998 NBA Finals.
New Jersey shot just 27.1 percent, its worst shooting game in team playoff history, and tied the postseason record for fewest field goals -- 19 -- in what was easily its worst offensive performance of the season.
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