Pistons pip Pacers to maintain home dominance
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-24 15:37

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rasheed Wallace had 28 points and nine rebounds to guide Detroit to an 88-83 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, giving the Pistons their 11th consecutive home win.

Wallace also recorded his 1,000th career block, becoming just the 68th player in league history to hit that milestone.

Chauncey Billups added 14 points and had nine assists for the Pistons, who improved to an NBA best 44-9 after losing four of their previous 10.

"We won the game, but there are things we need to work on," Detroit coach Flip Saunders told reporters.

"We need to play better for longer stretches than we did tonight if we expect to keep winning games."

The Pistons appeared sluggish for most of the night, but Wallace came alive early in the fourth quarter, hitting four straight -- including three 3-pointers -- to thwart the Pacers.

Ben Wallace had 13 points and eight rebounds for Detroit while the Pistons' tenacious defense wore down the Pacers in the second half.

Detroit's other starter, Tayshaun Prince, contributed eight points as the Pistons started the same five players for the 53rd game in a row.

"When you turn it over 22 times for 30 points, you aren't going to beat a top team," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle told reporters.

"That was a big part of the reason why we lost the game."

In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points as the Mavericks beat the Memphis Grizzlies 97-87.