Pistons drive past Heat as Spurs fend off Hornets with 3s

The Detroit Pistons showed the Miami Heat that their many moves might not make a difference.

Chauncey Billups scored 30 and Richard Hamilton had 25 points and a season-high nine assists Thursday night leading Detroit past the Heat 106-101 in a rematch of the last season's Eastern Conference finals.

In their first matchup since the Pistons won at Miami in Game 7 of the series, Detroit used clutch shots and key defensive plays in the final minutes to pull away in the close game.

Detroit has won a season-high nine straight games. The Pistons are an NBA-best 24-3, with a 27-game record that trails just two teams in NBA history.

Dwyane Wade had 33 points, Shaquille O'Neal scored 26 and Jason Williams chipped in with 20 points for the Heat, who had won seven of nine games.

Miami added players through free agency and trades in the offseason, and Pat Riley replaced Stan Van Gundy as coach earlier this month.

The Pistons have had the same starting five for nearly two years, a span that includes one NBA title and falling just short of a repeat. Detroit's Rasheed Wallace scored 21 points and Tayshaun Prince added 13.

Spurs 111, Hornets 84

In San Antonio, Michael Finley scored 18 points -- including making all four of his 3-point shots -- and San Antonio shut down New Orleans' offense after the opening minutes.

The Spurs, who lost to New Orleans earlier this month in Oklahoma City, were 11-for-15 on 3s and their lead grew to as many as 32 points in the fourth quarter.

Tim Duncan added 17 points for San Antonio, while Tony Parker had 16 and Manu Ginobili 14.

David West was the only Hornets player in double figures with 18 points. Chris Paul, the team's leading scorer with a 16.7 point per game average, finished with six on 3-for-12 shooting.

SuperSonics 112, Nuggets 105

At Denver, Ray Allen scored a season-high 39 points and Rashard Lewis added 27 in Seattle's victory over short-handed Denver.

The Nuggets got 32 points from Carmelo Anthony, but Seattle held him to just two free throws in the final 18 minutes. He ended his frustrating night with a missed layup with 19 seconds left.