Pistons run cool despite Heat rally as Nets snare Cats

Rasheed Wallace returned from his one-game suspension to score 20 points, Tayshaun Prince added 20 more and Richard Hamilton scored 19 Thursday as the Detroit Pistons survived another Miami rally to beat the Heat 95-82 and move a step closer to securing home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs.

Detroit (61-14) saw most of a 12-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate before winning its sixth straight game and moving three ahead of idle San Antonio in the race for the NBA's best record.

Dwyane Wade had 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Shaquille O'Neal scored 28 for Miami, which played without injured starters James Posey and Jason Williams, plus top reserve Alonzo Mourning.

Miami (49-26) lost for the fifth time in nine games, and saw its edge for the East's second-best record shrink to 2 1/2 games over New Jersey.

Nets 113, Bobcats 102

BAt East Rutherford, New Jersey, Richard Jefferson scored a season-high 40 points, Jason Kidd had his 74th triple-double, and the Nets extended the longest winning streak in the NBA this season to 14.

The Nets also matched the longest winning streak in franchise history, having won 14 in a row from Jan. 25-Feb. 24, 2004. New Jersey broke a tie with Dallas for the longest winning streak in the NBA this season.

Once the blowout was ensured, the Nets even were able to get Kidd a final rebound in the last minute to add to his triple-double total. He finished with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 boards, moving within four triple-doubles of Wilt Chamberlain for third place on the career list.

Vince Carter added 20 points for the Nets, who pulled away in the third quarter by shooting 14-for-18 (78 percent) from the floor. Jefferson scored 26 points in the second half.