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Detroit Pistons win Central Division

Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince guides the ball into the basket against the Chicago Bulls in their NBA game in Chicago, Illinois on Monday. PHOTO: EPA

Chauncey Billups scored 28 points, including the game-winning basket with 8.2 seconds left, to help the Detroit Pistons clinch the Central Division with a 85-84 overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

Billups scored seven points in the extra session to lead a Pistons' comeback after Chicago scored the first eight points. Detroit scored 12 of the final 15 points to escape with the victory.

The Pistons' division title gives them the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They've won seven straight and handed the Bulls just their second loss in 14 games.

"It starts there. When you're on an elite team, that's where you start at. You want to control your own division," Billups said.

Kirk Hinrich scored 15 points to lead the Bulls, who guaranteed themselves a playoff berth on Saturday.

Mavericks 110, Grizzlies 89

In Dallas, Josh Howard scored 23 points and Keith Van Horn added 14 to lead Dallas over Memphis and spoil the Grizzlies' first chance to clinch a playoff spot.

Memphis endured its worst loss under coach Mike Fratello and second-worst of the season; the Grizzlies lost to Minnesota by 25 on Nov. 26 when Hubie Brown was still in charge.

Dirk Nowitzki had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who clinched the West's No. 4 seed in their previous game. They won their season-best eighth straight at home and improved to 11-2 under coach Avery Johnson.

Nuggets 122, Warriors 106

In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 11 of his 32 points during a key third-quarter run and Andre Miller had 16 assists to help Denver down Golden State and clinch consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in a decade.

DerMarr Johnson had 20 points, and Earl Boykins added 12 points and 10 assists for Denver, which won for the 22nd time in 24 games.

Baron Davis had 28 points and Jason Richardson added 26 for the Warriors.

The Nuggets reached the playoffs last season for the first time since 1995.

Pacers 94, Raptors 90

In Toronto, Reggie Miller scored 19 points to pass Jerry West for 12th on the all-time scoring list and lead Indian past Toronto.

Miller has 25,201 points, nine more than the man on the NBA logo. Miller passed West with a 3-pointer 40 seconds into the second half. The 18-year veteran is retiring at the end of the year, and players and coaches on both sides paid tribute to him before his last game at the Air Canada Centre.

Indiana can clinch a playoff spot at home Wednesday against the New Jersey Nets. The Pacers are vying with Chicago for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Jalen Rose had 26 points for the lottery-bound Raptors, who have lost eight of 11.

Cavaliers 114, Magic 106

In Orlando, Florida, LeBron James scored 33 points and Drew Gooden had 27 for Cleveland, which beat Orlando to take a half-game lead ahead of idle Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference playoff's seventh seed.

Robert Traylor added 20 points for the Cavaliers, who stayed within two games of sixth-place Washington. The Wizards visit Cleveland on Friday.

Dwight Howard had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Orlando, losers of four straight and five of six. The Magic are 4 1/2 games behind the 76ers with five games remaining.

Steve Francis also scored 23, while DeShawn Stevenson had 21.

Wizards 119, Bucks 112

In Washington, Gilbert Arenas dished out a season-high 13 assists while passing up shots in Wash-ington's win over Milwaukee.

Antawn Jamison had 32 points to help the Wizards end a five-game skid and re-establish some momentum as they anticipate their first playoff berth since 1997. Washington (42-35) also clinched its first winning season since 1998 and gave coach Eddie Jordan his 100th NBA coaching victory.

Michael Redd scored 35 points, and Erick Strickland added a season-high 22 for the Bucks, who fell behind in the first quarter and trailed the rest of the game in their 12th consecutive road loss.

Bobcats 110, Hawks 105, OT

In Atlanta, Keith Bogans scored 21 points to lead seven Charlotte players in double figures in a matchup of the two worst teams in the NBA.

The Bobcats snapped an eight-game losing streak and kept the Hawks from their first two-game winning streak of the season. Brevin Knight had 17 points for Charlotte and Emeka Okafor added 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Josh Childress led the Hawks with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Tyronn Lue added 18 points and 14 assists, while Josh Smith added 17 points and nine rebounds.

Rockets 90, SuperSonics 78

In Seattle, Tracy McGrady scored 38 points for Houston, and the Rockets kept Seattle from clinching the Northwest Division for the fifth straight game.

The Sonics, who have been trying to wrap up the division title for more than a week, dropped their fifth straight. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets have won eight in a row, including a 122-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, to pull within four games of Seattle with five games remaining.

The Rockets, who clinched a playoff spot with their victory over Phoenix on Saturday, are sixth in the West and have won their last three.

Ray Allen led Seattle with 18 points.

Other result: Suns 108, Lakers 97.
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