For most of the week, the Detroit Pistons talked about Thursday night's game against the Washington Wizards as a chance to showcase an improved Pistons team.

Even though Detroit was victorious, 95-85, the story of the night was the story of this summer: Michael Jordan's return to the NBA.

Public address announcer John Mason was about to introduce Jordan, but the 22,000-plus fans at The Palace were already on their feet, clapping, hollering for arguably the greatest player looking to make an improbable comeback at the age of the 38.