NBA Game Summary - Dallas at Detroit

Auburn Hills, MI (Basketball News) - Chauncey Billups netted 31 points on 8-of-14 shooting, as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 97-90, at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Billups was also 11-of-12 from the free throw line with 11 assists and Rasheed Wallace added 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who have won 17 of their last 18 games at home. Detroit recently had its 16-game home winning streak stopped on Sunday against New Jersey.

Richard Hamilton scored 14 points and Ben Wallace donated eight points and 11 rebounds for the Central Division-champion Pistons, who continue to sit on top of the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons also got revenge after being blown out in Dallas, 119-82, on November 19.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jerry Stackhouse each scored 25 points for the Mavericks, who have lost three of their last five games. Nowitzki also grabbed 11 boards and Keith Van Horn added 18 points off the bench.

The loss dropped Dallas out of a tie for first place in the Southwest Division with the Spurs, who will battle the LA Clippers later in the evening. The Mavericks, though, still have a commanding lead for the fourth spot in the Western Conference.

It was a close game throughout as the teams battled in a playoff-type atmosphere. However, it was the Pistons who were stronger down the stretch.

With the score tied at 88 with 3:42 remaining, Billups hit a technical free throw after an illegal defense call on Dallas, and he followed up with a three-pointer with 2:43 remaining.

Nowitzki nailed a turnaround jumper from around the free throw line to pull the Mavericks to within 92-90 with 2:20 left.

Ben Wallace then had his shot blocked on the other end after a miss by Hamilton, but Detroit returned the favor. Jason Terry heaved a three that would have given the Mavs the lead, but the shot was off the mark. Nowitzki grabbed the offensive rebound, but his shot was then blocked by Tayshaun Prince.

Out of a timeout, Billups hit a long two-pointer from the left side to extend the Pistons to a 94-90 lead with 45 seconds left. Stackhouse then turned the ball over.

After a foul, Prince hit 1-of-2 from the free throw line for a five-point Piston advantage. Nowitzki tried to make it a two-point contest, but his three-pointer was no good and Billups hit on both his attempts from the free throw line to ice the game with 13 seconds remaining.

Dallas led just by one at 24-23 after 12 minutes. Both teams built leads in the second, but after the first two quarters, the Pistons led by just 52-50 heading into the break.

Tied at 52 early in the third, Billups’ jumper started an 8-2 run that gave Detroit a 60-54 edge with just over seven minutes left. The Pistons maintained their lead throughout the frame, though Dallas cut it to one at 65-64 with 2:47 remaining, but Detroit led 72-69 after the stanza.