Heat gain edge on Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Miami Heat have other players they can go to besides Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade.

Good thing, too.

The veteran trio of Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Jason Williams - brought on to help O'Neal and Wade get past the Pistons - were so effective in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals that they didn't need superstar efforts from their superstar duo to steal home-court advantage from Detroit.

Walker finished with 17 points, Payton came off the bench to score 14, and Williams had 10 to lead Miami to a 91-86 victory Tuesday night.

''It's not like we're rookies,'' Payton said.

Wade, who sat out more than 10 straight minutes of the second half with four fouls, had 25 points in 27 minutes and O'Neal scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half - making the Heat feel even better about starting the series strong.

''I think that's the first time this season, other than injuries, that they've both been out for extended periods,'' Riley said. ''That's why the last four or five minutes of the second period might have determined the game, even though they came back in the third.''

The Pistons, who trailed by as much as 12 in the first quarter and nine in the second, took their first lead on Chauncey Billups' layup with 6:55 to go in the third quarter.

The two-time defending conference champions didn't enjoy the lead long.

Miami snatched control of the game with a 20-5 run, taking a 75-65 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

''Their supporting cast was good - and that was the difference,'' Billups said.

Detroit's backcourt scored a lot, but missed a ton of shots.

Richard Hamilton had 22 points on 9-of-22 shooting and Billups finished with 19 on 6-of-19 shooting.

''We missed shots that we normally make,'' Billups said.

Detroit's Tayshaun Prince scored 16 points, reserve Antonio McDyess added 10

and Rasheed Wallace had a quiet night - scoring just seven points after missing seven of 10 shots - perhaps slowed down by an injured ankle.

Game 2 is Thursday night at The Palace before the best-of-seven series shifts to Miami.