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Heat overcomes the Pistons as top players take a rest

Shaquille O'Neal was on the bench, Larry Brown was back in Detroit, and the Miami Heat beat the Pistons 83-74 Saturday in a preseason game that lost its luster with two stars from last year's NBA Finals out of commission.

The game would have been O'Neal's first against Detroit since the Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA championship last year, but O'Neal strained his left hamstring in practice during the week and didn't dress for the game.

"I would have liked to make an appearance here, but we're worrying about the long picture," O'Neal said.

Brown, who coached the Pistons to a title in his first year at Detroit, skipped the trip to Arkansas because of illness. Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg said Brown would return for today's preseason game at home against Minnesota. Assistant Gar Heard coached the team Sunday.

The team encouraged Brown to take the night off after his active offseason.

"The championship and the Olympics took a lot out of him," Heard said.

Dwyane Wade led Miami with 20 points, including eight in the third quarter when the Heat stretched a 43-40 halftime lead to 70-52.

Rasual Butler scored 11 and Damon Jones and Michael Doleac each scored 10 for the Heat. Smush Parker scored 11 for Detroit and Chauncey Billups added 10 -- both in just over a quarter of play.

Cavaliers 104, Bulls 88

In St. Louis, Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 17 points and six rebounds to lead Cleveland past Chicago.

Reserve Dajuan Wagner added 14 points for Cleveland, and Jeff McInnis scored 13. Drew Gooden had 10 rebounds.

Eddie Curry scored 21 points for Chicago.

LeBron James contributed 11 points for Cleveland in 22 minutes, going just 3-of-10 from the field. He had four rebounds.

"I played decent, I'm moving off the ball pretty good," James said. "I made a few shots, a couple fouls happened, and I cooled off."

Cleveland center DeSagana Diop did not play because of a sprained finger.

Pacers 108, Grizzlies 91

In Memphis, Tennessee, Jermaine O'Neal scored 22 points, and Indiana's dominant front line led the Pacers over Memphis.

O'Neal shot 7-of-12 from the field and made all eight free throws, and Ron Artest added 19 points for Indiana. Stephen Jackson scored 17 and Jeff Foster added 16 for the Pacers, who shot 58 percent.

Memphis had six players in double figures, led by Lorenzen Wright's 14. Pau Gasol had 12 points but shot just 3-of-9 from the field.

Nets 95, Celtics 86

In Albany, New York, Rodney Buford scored 19 points to lead New Jersey to a win over Boston.

Paul Pierce scored 17 points for Boston, which closed within four points in the fourth period but never took the lead. New Jersey was ahead 52-40 at halftime.

Knicks 98, Spurs 84

In New York, Jamal Crawford made 10 of 12 shots and scored 25 points Saturday to lead New York Knicks over San Antonio.

Crawford and Stephon Marbury overpowered the Spurs early from the backcourt, and forwards Trevor Ariza and Michael Sweetney filled the middle for the Knicks, who have won their first two preseason games.

Marbury, with 10 points, was the only other Knicks player in double figures. Tim Duncan had 16 points and eight rebounds.
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