"There was the hesitation drive that left Will Bynum wondering what happened. Then there was the time he darted in the passing lane and got the steal for a layup. There was even a rare 3-pointer.

All that was missing was a fan holding a "Welcome back T.J. Ford" sign.

Ford, playing his first game in more than a month, reminded people what he can do when came off the bench to score 11 points in the Indiana Pacers' largest victory of the season, 107-83 over the Detroit Pistons at Conseco Fieldhouse on Friday.

"I thought he looked sharp," said Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, the person responsible for relegating Ford to the bench. "It's a credit to T.J.'s professionalism that he kept sharp, kept in shape, shot the basketball well. A very focused game for him, and we needed it.""