Pistons snap Suns' seven-game streak

DETROIT: The Detroit Pistons ended the Phoenix Suns' seven-game winning streak with a 110-105 victory in overtime on Monday.

Chauncey Billups was inspired in the extra session, scoring nine of his 32 points to help Detroit beat Phoenix for the second time this month.

After Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire forced overtime with two free throws with 54 seconds left in regulation, Billups sealed the win with a three-point play to give Detroit a 107-105 advantage with about a minute to play in overtime.

"It was a big game for us," Billups told reporters. "A lot of people have just been saying that we don't have any big games left because we can't move up or down (in the division).

"I thought this was a big game because we have struggled the last two games, mightily. This team (Phoenix) is looking to be a No 1 seed, so they're playing for a lot."

The Pistons, who have a 10.5-game lead in the Central Division, won despite being short-handed. Richard Hamilton was out with a hip injury and Juan Dixon was inactive with a calf problem.

"So it was an opportunity for the young guys to step up and they did just that," Billups said.

Arron Afflalo started and drew praise from both coaches for his defensive play against the Suns' Steve Nash. Rodney Stuckey had 13 points in the final 23 minutes.

"They definitely showed the coaching staff that they can show up big and make games," Detroit's Rasheed Wallace, who had 23 points, told reporters.

Stoudemire led Phoenix with 33 points and Nash scored 23.

The Suns were hoping to tie the Los Angeles Lakers for the Pacific Division lead with a win and move up in the tight Western Conference standings, where they now stand fifth.

"This would have been a huge win for us for the Western Conference," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters, "but obviously it wasn't in the cards so we will take it and move on to Boston and try to win one there."

In New York, Vince Carter scored 27 points, Richard Jefferson added 26 and the New Jersey Nets moved within one game of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after beating the Knicks 106-91 in overtime.

New Jersey beat its cross-Hudson rivals for the first time this season after three losses. Nenad Krstic added 22 points for the Nets, who are a half-game ahead of Indiana (29-41) and one game behind Atlanta (30-39) in the conference standings.

In Boston, Andre Iguodala scored 28 points, including 10 in a row during a 19-0 fourth-quarter run as Philadelphia rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat Boston 95-90.

Eddie House's 3-pointer gave Boston an 80-69 lead with 8:20 to play, but the Celtics couldn't score until Paul Pierce hit one of two free throws with 1:38 left. By that time, the Sixers were on their way to their ninth victory in 11 games and their 18th in 23 tries.

Kevin Garnett scored 18 for Boston, which lost its second straight game after winning 14 out of 15.

In Houston, Rafer Alston scored 28 points and Tracy McGrady added 17 as Houston beat Sacramento 108-100 to give coach Rick Adelman his 800th career victory.

Adelman, who won 395 games coaching Sacramento from 1998-2006, became the 13th coach to reach the milestone. He's one of six active coaches with 800 wins, joining Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Don Nelson and George Karl.

Kevin Martin scored 18, and Ron Artest and Francisco Garcia had 17 apiece to lead the Kings, who've lost eight of their last nine road games.

In Oakland, California, Lamar Odom made the go-ahead layup with 9 seconds left in overtime, and the Los Angeles Lakers shook off Golden State's frantic regulation rally to hang on for a 123-119 victory.

Kobe Bryant scored 23 of his 30 points after halftime, while Odom finished with 23 points and 21 rebounds as the Lakers reclaimed the Western Conference's top spot and avenged Sunday night's 115-111 loss to the Warriors.

Baron Davis had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Warriors, who have lost four of seven in a critical stretch for their playoff hopes.

In Miami, Chris Quinn, filling in for an injured Jason Williams, scored a career-high 24 points to lead Miami past Milwaukee 78-73.

Michael Redd scored 24 points to lead the Bucks.

Agencies

(China Daily 03/26/2008 page24)