The Associated Press

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - One shot has drastically changed the dynamics of the NBA Finals. The question now for the Detroit Pistons is whether they'll let it affect them in Game 3 the way it did in overtime of Game 2.

Distraught and disgusted with themselves after their heartbreaking defeat, the Pistons headed home immediately after Tuesday's night's game.

But instead of returning to Detroit with a 2-0 lead and a chance to pull off an upset, they're tied 1-1 and wondering how they let a six-point lead slip away in the final 40 seconds.

The most pertinent question was why the Pistons didn't foul someone before Kobe Bryant hit a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. A foul would have given the Lakers two free throws when they needed three points to tie, and the Pistons had plenty of opportunities to commit one before Bryant launched his shot.

"We don't foul in a situation like that," coach Larry Brown said, explaining that he feared a four-point play. "I thought about it. We talked about if they threw it inside, yeah, when Shaq (O'Neal) gets it, put him on the line. But I don't want to take a chance like that."

Brown has to live with the consequences of that decision and hope it doesn't ultimately cost him a chance for his first championship as an NBA head coach.

Judging by what the Pistons had to say after Game 2, the mental hurdle will be a significant obstacle to overcome.

"It's devastating," Tayshaun Prince said.

"You know, we're crushed," Brown said. "I mean, shoot, that was - we had a winnable game. And everybody in that locker room is down. But we lost in triple overtime to New Jersey (in the second round) and had to go there and win Games 6 and 7. We've just got to bounce back."

Games 3, 4 and 5 will be played at The Palace before a sellout crowd that has waited almost a decade and a half for its team to make it to this stage. Meanwhile, the Lakers are nursing injuries to a couple of key players. Derek Fisher is hobbling with a sore right knee and has trouble guarding the most athletic opponents.

Karl Malone sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee early in Game 2 but played 39 minutes. He would not commit Wednesday to playing tonight.

"If I suit up, I'm going to play," Malone said. "I want to do the smart thing."

The things that worked for Los Angeles in Game 2 - including a significant role for rookie Luke Walton - should remain part of the game plan.

The first two games exposed the Pistons' matchup advantages at point guard and power forward with Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace outplaying the Lakers' two former superstars, Gary Payton and Malone.

"It's not a good feeling for me," said Payton, who was outscored 27-2 by Billups in Game 2. "Right now I don't have a rhythm, I don't have my confidence."