NBA: DETROIT (0-0) at MIAMI (0-0) <h3>Pistons, Heat try to return to form in season opener</h3> <div class="pre">Detroit (0-0) at Miami (0-0) 8:00 pm EDT</div> MIAMI (Ticker) - The Detroit Pistons begin their journey back tothe playoffs on Thursday when they take on the Miami Heat inthe season opener for both teams. After losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games during lastseason's Eastern Conference finals, the Pistons are looking toreturn there for a fifth straight season. Despite four consecutive conference final appearances, thePistons have made it to the NBA Finals just twice, winning thechampionship in 2003-04. However, Detroit is poised to at leastreturn to the playoffs despite a much improved EasternConference. Chauncey Billups almost didn't return to the Pistons afteropting out of the deal he signed in 2002. After several days asa free agent, the 32-year-old point guard inked a four-year,$64 million deal with a team option for a fifth year which wouldbe worth $14 million. Billups averaged 17 points and 7.2 assists last season, hisfifth in Detroit. For his career, Billups averages 14.5 pointsand 5.3 assists in parts of 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics,Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves andPistons. The Heat, who won the NBA title during the 2005-06 season, tryto return to their championship form this season after finishingwith a 44-38 record in 2006-07. Miami will enter the season shorthanded with superstar DwyaneWade expected to be sidelined until mid-November afterundergoing shoulder and knee surgery in the offseason. Wademissed 31 games last season but still averaged 23.5 points and6.5 assists. The Heat also will be looking for a different result than theyhad in their opener last season. After raising theirchampionship banner, the Heat endured an embarrassing 108-66thrashing at the hands of the Chicago Bulls.
NBA: DETROIT at MIAMI <div class="pre">DETROIT AT MIAMI - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS DETROIT MIAMI F Antonio McDyess F Udonis Haslem F Tayshaun Prince F Dorell Wright C Rasheed Wallace C Shaquille O'Neal G Chauncey Billups G Jason Williams G Arron Afflalo G Ricky Davis OFFICIALS: Joe Derosa Matt Boland Courtney Kirkland</div>
NBA: DETROIT at MIAMI <div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- DETROIT 26 26 MIAMI 22 22 END 1ST QTR HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER DET - TAYSHAUN PRINCE 9, CHAUNCEY BILLUPS 8, ANTONIO MCDYESS 2 MIA - JASON WILLIAMS 6, UDONIS HASLEM 6, DORELL WRIGHT 5</div>
NBA: DETROIT at MIAMI <div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- DETROIT 26 22 48 MIAMI 22 20 42 HALFTIME HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME DET - TAYSHAUN PRINCE 16, CHAUNCEY BILLUPS 10, RASHEED WALLACE 6 MIA - RICKY DAVIS 13, UDONIS HASLEM 8, TWO PLAYERS WITH 7</div>
NBA: DETROIT at MIAMI <div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- DETROIT 26 22 18 66 MIAMI 22 20 20 62 END 3RD QTR HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER DET - TAYSHAUN PRINCE 22, CHAUNCEY BILLUPS 17, RASHEED WALLACE 6 MIA - RICKY DAVIS 18, UDONIS HASLEM 10, JASON WILLIAMS 9</div>
