With All-Stars Grant Hill and Joe Dumars, and solid players like Brian Williams and Lindsey Hunter, Don Reid tends to be overlooked on the Detroit Pistons.
On Sunday, though, Reid got noticed in a 105-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.Reid only had two points and four rebounds in a career-high 38 minutes, but he excited his teammates and a crowd of 22,076 with four blocks, including two on consecutive dunk attempts by Dikembe Mutombo.
"He gave us an incredible boost of energy," Williams said. "It was phenomenal the way he stopped Dikembe."
Hill led the Pistons with 24 points and 11 assists. Williams and Jerry Stackhouse added 23 points for Detroit.
Steve Smith had 22 for Atlanta, and Christian Laettner added 20, including 11 in the fourth quarter.
Reid knew that one play, where he blocked Mutombo's dunk try, then repeated the feat after Mutombo retrieved the loose ball, played a big part in the final outcome.
"That was a big point in the game, because it got everyone excited," he aid. "It's all timing with him. He doesn't jump that high, but his arms are so long that if he gets there first, he's going to dunk on you. You just have to watch for him to gather himself, so you know what is coming."
HEAT 112, TRAIL BLAZERS 80: At Miami, Mark Strickland scored a career-high 23 points off the bench on 11-of-14 shooting, including a couple of highlight-reel dunks, as Miami routed Portland.
Four of Miami's starters reached double figures, led by Alonzo Mourning's 22 points. Tim Hardaway had 20 points and 13 assists, one off his season-high, Voshon Lenard added 15 points and Dan Majerle had 13.
BULLS 102, RAPTORS 100: At Toronto, Michael Jordan hit a short jumper with 5.4 seconds left in regulation to give Chicago the victory.
Jordan, who finished with 33 points, drove past Marcus Camby at the top of the key before pulling up for the game-winning shot after the Bulls had let a 12-point lead with six minutes left slip away.
CELTICS 108, 76ERS 90: At Boston, Dana Barros outplayed Allen Iverson, scoring 27 points, dishing out nine assists and grabbing nine rebounds to lead Boston over Philadelphia.
Antoine Walker added 25 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, which snapped a season-high, six-game losing streak. Ron Mercer had 24 points.
MAGIC 92, WARRIORS 83: At Orlando, Bo Outlaw had 22 points and seven rebounds and Derek Strong added 18 points and 12 rebounds off the bench as Orlando, despite playing without Nick Anderson, defeated Golden State.
It was the third victory in four games for Orlando, which is locked in a three-team race with New Jersey and Washington for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot. The Magic and Wizards are currently tied for the spot, a half-game ahead of the Nets.
PACERS 96, BUCKS 94 : At Milwaukee, Reggie Miller scored 32 points and Rik Smits converted a key three-point play in overtime as Indiana defeated reeling Milwaukee.
Ray Allen led Milwaukee with 25 points and Michael Curry added a career-high 21, but the Bucks lost their ninth straight and their 12th in their last 13.
WIZARDS 102, NETS 100 : At East Rutherford, N.J., Chris Webber converted a go-ahead three-point play with 27.6 seconds left in overtime, then gave the Nets the choke sign as he walked off the court.
Keith Van Horn almost single-handedly carried the Nets in the fourth quarter and the overtime, scoring 15 of their final 19 points. However, he turned the ball over on a traveling call with the Nets trailing 99-98 with 16.8 seconds left in overtime, that had his last-second shot miss the rim.