Armstrong, Hornets edge Pistons

With the game tied, Armstrong was fouled by Richard Hamilton before converting from the line. He then missed his second free throw, but grabbed his own rebound to secure the win.

Armstrong finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in place of center Tyson Chandler, who missed the game with a mild concussion. Chris Paul paced the Hornets, winners of two straight, with 20 points and 13 assists.

The Hornets snapped both a three-game road losing streak and a four-game losing skid overall against the Pistons.

Chauncey Billups had a game-high 29 points to go along with nine assists while Hamilton had 23 points for the Pistons, who have lost two straight.

The Hornets led by seven early in the fourth at 83-76 after a jumper by Bobby Jackson. Detroit battled back and tied the contest at 86-86 after back-to-back three-pointers by Rasheed Wallace and Billups.

The teams then traded leads down the stretch with a pair of Wallace free throws knotting the game at 95-95 with 2:40 to go. Billups then hit a fadeaway to put Detroit ahead by two.

Peja Stojakovic countered with two from the line before both teams failed on their next attempts.

Billups was then fouled on a running leaner and hit both from the free throw line with 54 ticks left. Wallace then fouled Paul on a layup try and the guard hit both free throw shots to make it 99-99.

Wallace missed a jumper for Detroit with 24 seconds left before Armstrong sealed the win from the line.

After carrying a 27-24 lead into the second quarter, the Hornets created some distance before the half.

New Orleans netted six of the frame’s first eight points, with two free throws by Jackson making it a 33-26 game. Three points from Armstrong followed by a Jannero Pargo jumper put the Hornets up 11, 44-33, with 7:05 left.

The Hornets moved to a 50-35 edge after Brandon Bass’ layup with 4:12 to go.

Six straight points by Detroit helped it close to 58-49, but Cedric Simmons capped the half’s scoring with a layup for an 11-point edge heading into the half.

The Pistons outscored the Hornets, 27-21, in the third frame and trailed 81-76 heading into the fourth.

Game Notes

Detroit shot 52.1 percent from the floor while the Hornets hit on 44.2 percent of their shots...Wallace ended with 14 points and nine boards while Tayshaun Prince had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort...Stojakovic ended with 14 pints and Bass added 12 and seven boards.