By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - For once, the offenses awoke in the NBA Eastern Conference, in time Wednesday night for a stirring fourth quarter Indiana rally. But not a victory.

No, the Detroit Pistons still have the Pacers baffled and cornered, and down 2-1 in the series after holding on for an 85-78 win in a game that for three periods was another exhibition of grinding defense and clanking jump shots.

Who knew when it was 56-45 at the end of three quarters that it would turn into a shootout?

But the Pistons needed one big play after another to frantically hold off an Indiana team that suddenly found a way to score.

• When the Pacers sliced a 76-65 margin to 76-75 with less than two minutes left, Rasheed Wallace was there with a foul-drawing dunk for a 3-point play.

• When Al Harrington's 3-pointer cut the lead to 80-78, Ben Wallace had a rebound basket.

• When Harrington tried to hit another 3-pointer from the corner, Rasheed Wallace deflected it.

So the Pistons carried on, with 20 points each from Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton, and 17 more to go with 16 rebounds from Ben Wallace.

The Pacers scored 33 points in the fourth period after scoring only 45 in the first three, as both teams had to back off on defense because of foul trouble. Even though Jermaine O'Neal had 24 points.

"They made shots. So did we," Pistons coach Larry Brown said. "I don't know how much any of us could have guarded anyone in the fourth quarter."

In the end, the Detroit defense held the Pacers to 34.7 percent shooting, even with their fast finish. Game 4 is Friday night.

"There were moves and countermoves," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "That's what makes this series interesting. The bottom line is we've got to get a better start."

Stunned from their second-half collapse at home in Game 2, Indiana came to Detroit desperate for relief, and found none. The Pacers yearned for a fast start but went 5-for-20 in the first quarter and were quickly behind 27-14.

And at first, Indiana's virus on offense had also to spread to its defense on the other end. Attacking the basket through the standing Pacers, the Pistons had six layups in the first period, and three dunks.

INDIANA (78)-Artest 4-13 5-6 13, O'Neal 7-17 10-11 24, Foster 0-1 0-0 0, Miller 1-4 0-0 3, Tinsley 4-11 3-4 12, Harrington 5-12 2-2 13, Bender 1-1 0-0 3, Johnson 0-3 2-2 2, F.Jones 1-3 0-0 2, Croshere 2-7 1-2 6. Totals 25-72 23-27 78.

DETROIT (85)-Prince 1-5 3-4 5, R.Wallace 8-15 4-6 20, B.Wallace 7-8 3-4 17, R.Hamilton 7-19 6-8 20, Billups 4-11 5-6 14, Williamson 1-3 3-4 5, James 1-2 0-0 2, Okur 0-3 0-0 0, Hunter 0-1 0-0 0, Ham 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 30-68 24-32 85.

Indiana	14	16	15	33-78
Detroit	27	9	20	29-85

3-Point Goals-Indiana 5-19 (Croshere 1-1, Bender 1-1, Harrington 1-2, Miller 1-3, Tinsley 1-4, O'Neal 0-1, F.Jones 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Artest 0-5), Detroit 1-10 (Billups 1-4, Prince 0-1, R.Wallace 0-1, James 0-1, Hunter 0-1, R.Hamilton 0-2). Fouled out-Croshere, Tinsley. Rebounds-Indiana 47 (O'Neal 9), Detroit 50 (B.Wallace 16). Assists-Indiana 12 (Tinsley 4), Detroit 19 (Billups 8). Total fouls-Indiana 31, Detroit 25. Technicals-Indiana Defensive Three Second 2, Indiana coach Carlisle. A-22,076 (22,076).