Balanced Pistons get even with 76ers

The Detroit Pistons resembled themselves again.

Rasheed Wallace scored 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter and had plenty of help at both ends of the court in a 105-88 series-evening victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 on Wednesday night at Auburn Hills, Mich.

“They were clicking everywhere,” Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala said. “Those are the Detroit Pistons that we expect to see.”

The 76ers had surprised the Pistons, 90-86, in Game 1.

“We were disappointed, upset and mad about what happened,” Pistons Coach Flip Saunders said. “Our players responded.”

Wallace was one of four Pistons scoring in double figures as they took a 17-point halftime lead, while the 76ers had only Andre Miller, who scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half.

Every Pistons’ starters shot at least 50%, and all of them except Richard Hamilton rested in the fourth quarter.

Boston 96, Atlanta 77 -- Rajon Rondo outplayed Mike Bibby and helped the Celtics take a commanding 2-0 series lead over the visiting Hawks and their blustery point guard.

Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Rondo had 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Bibby, booed after calling the Celtics’ fans “fair-weather,” had 12 points and one assist. He is four for 17 in the series with two assists.

Paul Pierce returned from a first-quarter knockdown by Josh Smith to score 14 points for the Celtics.

Smith had 13 points and eight rebounds for Atlanta.

The Celtics’ James Posey was called for a flagrant foul when he knocked Smith to the court in the third quarter.