AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The defending NBA champions were too much for another dynamic duo.

Rasheed Wallace, one of five Pistons to score in double figures, had 24 points to help Detroit defeat the Houston Rockets 87-79 last night in the first game of the NBA season.

Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, playing their first regular-season game together, found out what Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal did during their last five games together with the Los Angeles Lakers: The Pistons, relentless on defense and well-balanced on offense, are tough to beat.

McGrady missed 12 of 18 shots and finished with 18 points after scoring just three during the first half. Yao had just seven points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Detroit’s entire starting lineup from last season is back, and all five players scored at least 10. Aside from Rasheed Wallace’s big night on 10-of-19 shooting, Chauncey Billups had 17, Richard Hamilton scored 15, Ben Wallace had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Tayshaun Prince scored 10 while smothering Mc-Grady defensively much like he did against Bryant during the NBA Finals.

The Rockets shot just 39%. Charlie Ward had 13 points, Maurice Taylor had 12, and Jim Jackson added 10.

Rasheed Wallace, Billups, and Prince made 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to cap a 13-2 run, putting the Pistons ahead 68-61. After Detroit’s stingy defense forced a shotclock violation midway through the fourth, Ben Wallace’s tip-jam gave the Pistons a 76-66 lead.

The Rockets didn’t get closer than five after that.

Detroit had one last chance to enjoy its accomplishment from last season. Before the game, the Pistons were presented with championship rings by commissioner David Stern.

When Stern was asked why the NBA started its season on election night, when much of the nation was monitoring the polls, he said: “We’re delighted to give our fans a diversion.”

When the nine returning Pistons walked to center court for their rings during a 15-minute ceremony, they wore huge, gold-plated black belts provided by Rasheed Wallace that read: World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.

Just before Detroit’s third world championship banner was raised to the rafters, Billups reached his right hand out and grabbed it.

The Rockets acquired McGrady during the off-season hoping he and Yao could form an inside-outside combination that could replace O’Neal and Bryant as the dominant duo in the NBA.

Antonio McDyess was ejected from his Pistons debut for kicking the ball while complaining about a foul.

McDyess was called for a foul as he jumped for a rebound with 5:51 left in the second quarter. As McDyess walked downcourt, he dropped the basketball, kicked it and was ejected because of a new NBA rule. He had three points, one rebound, and one steal in nine minutes.

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MAVERICKS 107, KINGS 98

In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki had 33 points and 10 rebounds as the Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings 107-98 in the season opener for both teams. Michael Finley added 18 points for the Mavericks, who took a 14-point lead at halftime.

Brad Miller led the Kings with 24 points and Chris Webber contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds. Newcomer Matt Barnes had 17 points and nine rebounds.

The late game last night featured the Denver Nuggets at the Shaquille O’Nealless L.A. Lakers.