Veteran center Ben Wallace has returned to the Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumas, president of basketball operations, announced Wednesday. Wallace, who played six seasons in Detroit before going to the Chicago Bulls and then to Cleveland, signed a one-year contract for $1.3 million, the Detroit News reported. We are pleased to announce Ben Wallace's return to the Pistons organization, Dumas said.

LeBron James scored 38 points Saturday, powering Cleveland's 102-84 rout of Detroit in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal. James made his presence quickly by scoring 10 points in the first period and 21 by halftime. Cleveland's 57-45 lead at the break swelled to 91-74 when James sank an 18-foot jump shot with 5:35 left in the fourth period. Zydrunas Ilkgauskas, Mo Williams and Delonte West each scored 12 points for the winners. James also had eight rebounds and seven assists, Ilgauskas 10 rebounds and four assists, and West five rebounds and five assists for the Cavaliers, who are looking for their sixth straight playoff series win over the Pistons. Rodney Stuckey led Detroit with 20 points and four assists.

Will Bynum highlighted a big game by the Detroit bench Friday and the Pistons claimed the final available NBA playoff berth with a 100-93 win over New Jersey. Bynum scored 20 of the 46 points produced by Detroit's bench players, helping the Pistons build a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Detroit

Richard Hamilton led six Detroit players in double figures Wednesday and the Pistons neared a playoff berth by crushing New York 113-86. The Pistons moved into a tie with Chicago for the seventh and eighth spots in the Eastern Conference.

Will Bynum's 32 points, four rebounds and seven assists Sunday led the Detroit Pistons' 104-97 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. Bynum's career-high point total helped justify his replacing the disgruntled Allen Iverson, who complained about his lack of playing time before the team decided last week to sit him for the rest of the regular season because of back problems. Charlotte led 69-68 after three periods, but Bynum's four free throws in the final 11 seconds secured Detroit's victory. Tayshaun Prince scored 14 points, Richard Hamilton had 13 and Aaron Afflalo scored 12, while Rasheed Wallace finished with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Pistons, who broke a three-game losing streak. D.J.