AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -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.
Suns 115, Lakers 107
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Steve Nash had 25 points and 11 assists for his career-best 50th double-double, and Phoenix beat the Lakers to move 2 1/2 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 before fouling out for the Lakers (40-37), who lost for the fifth time in seven games and fell into seventh place in the West – a half-game behind the Denver Nuggets. The teams meet Monday night in Denver.
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