NBA Game Summary - Utah at Detroit

Detroit, MI (Basketball News) - Richard Hamilton scored a team-high 15 points and Ben Wallace recorded a huge blocked shot in the closing seconds to help the Detroit Pistons hold on for a 64-62 home victory over the Utah Jazz.

Chauncey Billups ended with 12 points for the Pistons, who picked up their ninth straight home victory, but won for just the second time in six games overall. Rasheed Wallace posted 10 points and 10 rebounds in the triumph and Antonio McDyess collected 10 points and six boards in the win.

"We just didn’t get anything accomplished against their zone, but we lucked out and won the game," said Pistons coach Larry Brown.

Andrei Kirilenko recorded 27 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots for the Jazz, who have dropped five straight contests. Matt Harpring chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds in the setback.

The Pistons held a slim 63-62 lead after Utah’s Mehmet Okur hit a jumper with 2:06 remaining. Neither team was able to score on their next few possessions and, after a Kirilenko steal with 20 seconds left, the Jazz found themselves with the ball and a chance to go ahead.

Utah took the ball down the court and it was Kirilenko who tried to drive to the hoop. Kirilenko did get to the basket, but Ben Wallace was able to block the shot off the backboard. Billups collected the rebound and was fouled immediately by Raja Bell. Billups made just 1-of-2 foul shots, but Howard Eisley missed badly on a jump shot attempt at the buzzer.

"We did all we could do to win the game," said Kirilenko. "They tried to frustrate us. We can’t look at the fans or the team we’re playing. We have to just play."

Detroit, which never trailed in the contest, held a 58-50 lead after three quarters before allowing the Jazz to climb back into the game in the last period. The Pistons went 0-for-15 from the field in the final 12 minutes and saw a 61-50 lead nearly erased by a 12-2 Utah surge.

The Pistons started the game on a 15-4 stretch, but Utah was able to slice the lead to 19-14 by the end of the opening quarter.

Utah was able to make it a 28-24 game when Bell hit a 17-foot jumper with 3:16 remaining. However, Detroit ended the half on a 10-5 stretch to carry a 38-29 cushion into the locker room. Billups closed the period with a baseline jumper at the buzzer. The play was reviewed by officials before being counted.

Kirilenko led all scorers with 12 points at the half, while Billups paced Detroit with 11.

Utah opened the third quarter with a 14-7 run to cut the deficit to 45-43, but Detroit was able to hold off the charge and carry the eight-point cushion into the fourth quarter.