Green boosts Sixers over Pistons

Steven Hunter poured in 16 points and grabbed eight boards for the Sixers, who have won four of five, but were eliminated from playoff contention after losing 104-87 to Orlando on Saturday. Philadelphia has missed the playoffs three of the last four years.

Bobby Jones and Joe Smith finished with 13 points apiece for the Sixers, while Andre Miller chipped in with 12 and nine assists. Louis Amundson added a career-high 11 rebounds for the Sixers. Kyle Korver (wrist), Andre Iguodala (back) and Kevin Ollie (eye) did not travel with the team.

Tayshaun Prince had a team-high 15 points for the Pistons, who rested their starters through most of the game and pulled all of them by the time the third period had ended. They have already secured the Central Division title for the third straight season.

Amir Johnson had a career-high in both points (12) and rebounds (10) for Detroit, which holds the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed for the third time in five years. Lindsey Hunter also scored 12 points, while Carlos Delfino donated 11 and Jason Maxiell finished with 10.

The Sixers opened the game on a 12-6 run, but trailed 28-27 by the end of the first quarter.

The teams went back-and-forth in the second, and Delfino’s jumper with three seconds remaining in the first half tied it at 50 heading to intermission.

Philadelphia pulled ahead in the third, using a 13-5 run to grab a 67-59 edge. Samuel Dalembert started the spurt with a free throw, while Hunter’s alley-oop dunk capped the flurry at 5:23.

Johnson’s layup and subsequent free throw cut the Detroit deficit to 78-67 with 54 ticks left in the stanza, and Delfino added a jumper with 13 seconds remaining to make it 77-70 heading to the fourth.

The Pistons trailed by as many as 18 points with under four minutes to play in the contest and never posed a serious threat as the clock ticked down to the final buzzer.

Game Notes

Johnson’s six blocks were the most by any Piston this season...Detroit won the season series, 3-1...Philadelphia ended a six-game losing streak against Detroit and posted only its second win in 13 games against the Pistons...Detroit will host the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday and will wrap up their regular season schedule on Wednesday against the Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden...The Sixers host Cleveland Tuesday and will finish their season Wednesday against the Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.