Print

Mail

wiki links

NBA: Pistons sink Lakers with late three-pointer

Tayshaun Prince's three-pointer with four seconds left fired the Detroit Pistons to a 90-89 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

Detroit's ninth consecutive home win over Los Angeles was achieved despite 39 points and 10 rebounds from the Lakers' Kobe Bryant.

Prince scored the winner after chasing down a missed three-pointer by team mate Rasheed Wallace and getting the ball to Chauncey Billups, who found Prince alone on the left wing.

"Chauncey made the perfect play," Prince told reporters. "Usually when you get an offensive rebound, you get the draw and kick and the probability is of a high-percentage shot."

Prince led Detroit with 22 points, Billups got 16 and Richard Hamilton 14. Derek Fisher added 15 points for Los Angeles.

Bryant had rallied the Lakers from a 17-point first-half deficit with 10 successive points in the third period.

That gave Los Angeles a 62-58 advantage with 4:18 left in the period.

"We had done a good job defensively [on him]," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said.

"He had 11 turnovers. But when he gets it going like that. I mean, the guy has scored 81 in a game," Saunders said.

A tight game followed with the Lakers leading 89-87 on Ronny Turiaf's free throw with just 17 seconds to play before Prince nailed his three-pointer.

Los Angeles still had a chance but Lamar Odom missed a jumper with two seconds to go.

Celtics 96, Mavericks 90

Point guard Rajon Rondo had a season-high 12 rebounds, including one for the lead with 42 seconds left, and the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Dallas Mavericks 96-90 on Thursday.

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen scored 26 points apiece to help the Celtics remain unbeaten against the Western Conference. And they did it against one of the West's best teams while overcoming 31 points and 11 rebounds from Dirk Nowitzki.

SuperSonics 101, Cavaliers 95

The Seattle SuperSonics scored a 101-95 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers who were playing without the injured LeBron James.

Kevin Durant scored 24 points and Chris Wilcox contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds for the SuperSonics.

Spurs 84, Suns 81

The San Antonio Spurs rallied to beat the Phoenix Suns 84-81 behind Tim Duncan's 16 points and 17 rebounds.

Manu Ginobili added 19 points and Jacque Vaughn had 17. Shawn Marion had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix.
This story has been viewed 955 times.