Richard Hamilton scored 21 points and Chauncey Billups had 14 points and 12 assists, directing a balanced attack that gave the Detroit Pistons an 87-82 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.
The Pistons have won four of five to maintain their cushion over Chicago and Cleveland -- which has lost seven of 12 -- for the best record in the conference. Starting for just the third time this season, Antonio McDyess had 18 points, a season-high 13 rebounds and three blocks.
Unlike in the previous meeting, the Pistons kept LeBron James in check. He had 20 points on 5-of-16 shooting, six assists, five turnovers and five rebounds.
PHOTO: AP
Suns 115, Lakers 107
In Los Angeles, Steve Nash had 25 points and 11 assists for his career-best 50th double-double and Phoenix beat the Lakers to move two-and-a-half games ahead of San Antonio for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Leandro Barbosa scored 23 points, Raja Bell added 22, Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and nine rebounds and Shawn Marion added 12 for Phoenix (58-19), which won for the fifth time in its last six games. The Suns clinched their third straight Pacific Division championship March 20.
Kobe Bryant had 34 points and seven assists and Smush Parker added 25 points and six assists for the Lakers.
Bobcats 111, Heat 103, OT
In Miami, Gerald Wallace scored 30 points, Walter Herrmann hit two big 3-pointers in the final minute and Charlotte spoiled Dwyane Wade's first game back after missing six-and-a-half weeks with a dislocated left shoulder.
Wade played 27 minutes, scoring 12 points on 3-for-9 shooting from the field and 6-for-12 from the foul line -- part of the Heat's costly effort from the stripe.
Raymond Felton had 16 points, Hermann had 15 and Emeka Okafor and Brevin Knight each scored 13 for the Bobcats. Jake Voskuhl added 12 for Charlotte.
Rockets 112, Kings 106
In Sacramento, California, Tracy McGrady had 40 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in his return from a back injury and Houston made a late surge to snap a three-game losing streak.
Yao Ming scored 18 points, while Luther Head had 18 and broke a fourth-quarter tie with back-to-back 3-pointers that began a decisive 11-2 run.
Houston swept its three-game season series with the Kings, including two victories at Arco Arena.
Yao and McGrady missed the Rockets' loss to Portland on Friday with back problems, but both returned impressively as Houston pulled within a half-game of the Utah Jazz for the Western Conference's fourth-best record.
Raptors 103, Bulls 89
In Toronto, Anthony Parker scored a career-high 27 points and Chris Bosh accumulated 22 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Raptors over Chicago.
Joey Graham added 19 points for the Raptors, who clinched their first Atlantic Division title on Friday and their first playoff spot in five years last month.
Toronto has won eight of 10 to move within one-and-a-half games of Chicago and Cleveland for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Ben Gordon had 27 points for the Bulls, who lost for the second time in eight games. Andres Nocioni returned to Chicago's lineup after missing 28 games with plantar fasciitis.
76ers 109, Hawks 104, OT
In Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 25 points and the 76ers rallied from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to win in overtime.
Willie Green's 3-pointer on the 76ers' first possession of the extra period keyed a 7-0 run that gave the 76ers the lead for good.
Samuel Dalembert finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia.
Tyronn Lue scored 24 points to lead Atlanta. Marvin Williams had 21, but missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 8.6 seconds left.
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