LOS ANGELES, (MILLAT ONLINE/APP/AFP) – Bradley Beal and Markieff Morris
made sure the Detroit Pistons’ Palace at Auburn Hills era wouldn’t end with a victory for the home team on Monday.
Beal and Morris scored the Wizards’ last 15 points in a 105-101
victory in the Pistons’ final game at the Palace, their home in the Detroit suburbs since 1988.
Washington coach Scott Brooks put the pair in the game with less than
five minutes remaining, when the visitors were leading by two.
“Coach wanted to ruin their going-away party, so he threw me back out
there and I just closed it out,” said Beal, who poured in 33 points. “Credit to my teammates. We all did a terrific job throughout the game. We had some letups in the third and fourth quarter, but we did a good job of executing down the stretch.”
The Pistons will be moving to the new downtown Little Caesars Arena
next season, where the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings will also play.
Champions from all three NBA title teams that the Palace produced
were on hand on Monday to say goodbye, receiving standing ovations from the crowd during a halftime ceremony.
The 29 years of the Palace saw the Pistons “Bad Boys” of Isiah Thomas
crowned champions in 1989 and 1990, with Detroit also capturing the title in
2004.