Rasheed's Prayer is Answered From Beyond Half Court

That shot would have been impressive no matter what the circumstance, but just for context, that play happened in the final 1.5 seconds in the fourth with the Pistons trailing the Nuggets by three. That ... just ... doesn't ... happen. Ever.

"You know ... he practices those," said analyst Greg Kelser. Considering Rasheed Wallace's relatively muted reaction after the shot -- just a simple raised arm and a high-five to trainer Mike Abdenour -- I believe he does. And not surprisingly, after having the wind completely taken out of their sails, the Nuggets lost in overtime 113-109.

For the Nuggets, it must sting they left this one get away. With Rip Hamilton and Chris Webber not even in the arena due to the flu and Flip Murray battling a 103-degree temperature before the game, the Pistons were ripe for the upset at home, especially after coughing up a 15-point lead in the first. Denver got back into the game, believe it or not, with some stifling defense in the second quarter, forcing a bevy of turnovers that allowed J.R. Smith to put on fast break clinic and the Nugz to take the lead heading into halftime.

But the Pistons hung around just close enough after the break to make a crazy play like this possible. And Rasheed wasn't done playing the role of hero after sending the game to overtime -- he went on to score eight of the team's 15 points in the extra period, making up for lost time after missing the previous game while serving a one-game suspension for accumulating too many technicals.

Fortunately for the Pistons, they catch a break with the schedule, getting two days off for Hamilton, C-Webb and Murray to get well before facing the Bulls on Thursday. As for the Nuggets, I'm guessing it was a long, quiet plane ride home back to Denver on Monday night.