Another win for Billups, another loss for Pistons
Monday, November 24, 2008 10:16 AM PST
DENVER (AP) — The Detroit Pistons could have used Chauncey Billups — or any guard who could shoot straight.
While Billups was helping Denver win again, his old team turned in a miserable performance Sunday in a 106-80 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Allen Iverson, traded to the Pistons in the deal that sent Billups to the Nuggets, was 3-of-11 for nine points.
Richard Hamilton was 2-for-11 and scored seven. Top backcourt reserve Rodney Stuckey missed all five of his shots and finished with four points.
‘‘My top three guards were 5-for-27, but they’ve played enough basketball that they know they can’t get frustrated,’’ Detroit coach Michael Curry said. ‘‘Add in Rasheed Wallace, and it is 8-for-37. You aren’t going to win many games like that.’’
Billups had 21 points and eight assists in the Nuggets’ 114-101 home victory over Chicago.
Denver closed the game on an 18-2 run and improved to 8-2 since the Nov. 3 trade.
‘‘I guess we’re learning how to win in the fourth quarter,’’ Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin said. ‘‘Probably last year and a couple of years ago, we would’ve let this one slip away probably, because we hadn’t focused on defense and different things like that. We’re growing as a team. This is a testament to the guys in this locker room.’’
In Denver, Martin scored a season-high 26 points for the Nuggets, while Carmelo Anthony had 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
Nene also scored 21 points in Denver’s fifth straight home victory.
Ben Gordon scored 28 points for the Bulls, hitting 5-of-7 3-pointers, and was 9-for-9 on free throws.
Drew Gooden finished with 21 points as the Bulls lost for the ninth time in 10 visits to the Mile High City.
In Auburn Hills, Mich., the Pistons lost their third in four games and fell to 4-5 since Iverson joined them. Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 20 points, but Jason Maxiell was the only other player to reach double figures with 12.
‘‘I stunk up the gym tonight,’’ Iverson said. ‘‘I couldn’t do anything right on the offensive end. It was one of the nights you wish you never have, but they happen.’’
While Detroit’s All-Stars struggled, the best guard in the arena was Randy Foye, who had 23 points and a career-high 14 assists.
Lakers 118, Kings 108
At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 24 points, Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Pau Gasol had 16 points and the Lakers improved the NBA’s best record to 11-1.
All five Lakers starters reached double figures by the third quarter, and eight players finished with 10 or more points as the defending Western Conference champions won for the fourth straight time since losing to Detroit at home.
Despite their won-lost record, the Lakers have shot 50 percent or better from the field only three times.
They finished at 51.7 percent in this one.
John Salmons led Sacramento with 24 points and reserve guard, Bobby Brown added 21.
76ers 89, Warriors 81
Elton Brand had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Andre Iguodala added 15 points and Philadelphia moved above .500 for the first time this season by beating Golden State.
Thaddeus Young contributed 12 points and Samuel Dalembert had 16 rebounds for the Sixers, who improved to 7-6 and snapped a five-game losing streak to the Warriors.
Kelenna Azubuike scored 16 while C.J. Watson and Stephen Jackson had 12 apiece for Golden State, which dropped its second in a row. The high-flying Warriors were held well below the NBA-leading 105.4 points they were averaging before the game.
Celtics 118, Toronto 103
Ray Allen scored 21 points and the Boston Celtics led from the start in winning their fifth straight game, 118-103 over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen each scored 15 points for the Celtics, who have won 11 of 12 since a Nov. 1 loss to Indiana.
Kendrick Perkins had 12 points and Paul Pierce and Eddie House each scored 11 in helping Boston score a season high.
