(Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)


(Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

    WASHINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Dwyane Wade played only 27 minutes but scored 25 points as the Miami Heat downed the Detroit Pistons 91-86 in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday at Auburn Hills, MI.

    Wade, who picked up his fourth foul with 7:14 left in the third quarter, shot 9-of-11 from the field and went 7- of-9 at the foul line. Antoine Walker picked up the scoring slack with 17 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

    Shaquille O'Neal added 14 points and eight boards, while Gary Payton also scored 14 for Miami, which shot 56.3 percent from the field and held Detroit to 37.8 percent.

    Richard Hamilton tallied 22 points for Detroit, while Chauncey Billups added 19 points. Tayshaun Prince contributed 16 points for the Pistons, who struggled by shooting 5-of-21 from three-point range.

    Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night at the Palace. Enditem