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NBA: Pistons return to form to top Knicks

The Indiana Pacers’ Troy Murphy, top, hits Houston Rockets defender Yao Ming of China in the eye as he goes to the basket in the first half of their NBA game in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

The Detroit Pistons returned to form following a pair of disappointing defeats with a clinical 110-96 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday, the home team sharing out the points among a number of players.

Richard Hamilton’s 17 points led the eight Pistons to reach double figures as Detroit (9-5) took advantage of a depleted Knicks, who have lost five of their last six.

“We got back to the basics, knowing where guys need to be on offense and defense,” Hamilton told reporters. “The last two days of practice were great for us. It put a lot of stuff in perspective.”

Detroit has struggled for consistency since dynamic scorer Allen Iverson was acquired in a trade earlier this month.

However, the win over New York may have been the most complete offensive performance of the season for the Pistons, who were boosted by 49 bench points and a season-high 28 assists.

Detroit was coming off a surprising 106-80 home defeat to the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, but wasted little time in stamping their authority over the Knicks (7-8).

Iverson and Rasheed Wallace scored 10 points apiece in the first half to help the Pistons get back on track and take a 59-43 advantage into the halftime intermission.

Iverson finished with 16 points and five assists while Tayshaun Prince added 15 and five assists.

Al Harrington scored a game-high 25 points for the Knicks in his second game with the team since being traded from the Golden State Warriors on Friday.

The newly acquired forward was just 8-for-24 from the field, however, as the Knicks managed just 38.8 percent shooting on the night.

“What we did tonight, holding them to 39 percent, we haven’t done that even when we’ve had wins,” Detroit coach Michael Curry said.

Tim Thomas, who was also traded to New York from the Los Angeles Clippers last week, had 12 points and six rebounds while David Lee recorded 17 points and 15 boards.

The Knicks have lost three contests by a combined 49 points since trading away guard Jamal Crawford and power forward Zach Randolph in moves that provided the team with financial flexibility.

New York appears to be positioning itself to make a run at future free agents, mainly Cleveland’s LeBron James, who heads a star-studded group set to become available in 2010.

CELTICS 119, WARRIORS 111

In Boston, Ray Allen scored 25 points and Rajon Rondo had a season-high 22 as the Boston Celtics overcame a 14-point, third-quarter deficit in Wednesday’s 119-111 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Paul Pierce had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. Kevin Garnett added 21 points and 13 rebounds for Boston, which won its sixth consecutive game.

Point guard Rondo added eight rebounds and seven assists, running the Celtics’ offense to a season-high point effort.

Corey Maggette paced the Warriors with a season-high 32 points and Stephen Jackson had 30. Golden State lost its fourth straight.

PACERS 91, ROCKETS 90

At Houston, Danny Granger tipped in his own missed shot with 13 seconds remaining to lift the Indiana Pacers past Houston in a game in which Chinese star Yao Ming (姚明) suffered a severe cut.

The Pacers, who trailed by 10 points much of the fourth quarter, rallied behind Troy Murphy, scored 11 points in less than five minutes to pull the Pacers back into the game.

Yao, who matched Ron Artest for the team lead with 19 points, missed a layup attempt in a flurry under the basket in the final seconds as the Rockets fired several attempts at a winning basket.

Murphy led the Pacers with 21 points while Granger added 16 for Indiana, which improved to 6-7 by snapping a three-game losing streak and sending the Rockets, 10-6, to 3-3 at home.

Yao had to leave the game in the first quarter and had four stitches to seal a gash above his right eye.

CAVALIERS 117, THUNDER 82

At Cleveland, LeBron James played just 17 minutes, tying his career low, and scored 14 points as Cleveland rolled over Oklahoma City.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas led Cleveland with 17 points. All 12 players on the roster scored.

The Cavaliers are 12-3 for the first time in franchise history and remained undefeated at home in eight games.

Oklahoma City (1-15) has the worst record in the NBA and lost its 13th straight game. The Thunder are 0-3 under interim coach Scott Brooks, who took over when P.J. Carlesimo was fired on Nov. 22.



In the day’s other games it was:

• Raptors 93, Bobcats 86

• Magic 96, 76ers 94

• Suns 110, Timberwolves 102

• Hawks 102, Bucks 96

• Spurs 98, Bulls 88

• Jazz 117, Grizzlies 100

• Trail Blazers 106, Heat 68

• Nuggets 106, Clippers 105

• Nets 116, Kings 114, OT
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