Detroit will advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals by sending home Charlotte 4-3 after a 89-62 blowout of Charlotte designed to impress the media. "Maybe we can get some credit now," commented coach David Smith after the game. "No matter what we've done right this season, there have always been those who find something to doubt. So hopefully this 89-to-62 win can shut them up a little bit. I hate to have to do this to [Charlotte coach] Bob; he's got a great program and we never like to run up the score. But I don't think we had any other choice."

Bob was understanding. "I'm not upset at all. David Smith is a classy coach, but was left with no choice by all the criticism he was taking. We'll just have to pick up the pieces and try to regroup before our next game."

Detroit was led by Graham (14 points, 3 blocks), Fox (13 points, 0 assists, a block), Rausch (6 points, 11 boards, 0 assists, a block). Charlotte was led by Atkins (16 points, 9 boards, 0 assists, a steal, a block), Morse (25 points, a block), Williams (11 points, 0 assists).

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