Webber leads Detroit past Seattle

Chris Webber led all five Detroit starters in double figures with 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Tayshaun Prince donated 18 points and Rasheed Wallace added 15 for the Pistons, winners in their first three games of a five-game road trip.

Chauncey Billups scored 14 points and Hamilton added 10 in the victory, breaking Seattle’s five-game home winning streak. Detroit also won both meetings with the Sonics this season.

Allen had 27 points, although he struggled to a 7-of-24 night from the floor, and Chris Wilcox donated 21 points. Allen made 5-of-9 from long distance, but just 2-of-15 from inside the three-point line.

Earl Watson added 16 points and dished out seven assists, Rashard Lewis compiled 13 points and Johan Petro recorded 10 points and nine rebounds in the loss, Seattle’s fourth in a row.

Detroit led 26-18 after one stanza, but Seattle rallied to pull within 48-47 at the half.

A nip-and-tuck third quarter ended with Detroit holding a slim 73-71 lead.

The Pistons appeared to take control early in the fourth, storming out of the timeout with an 11-1 run. Seattle head coach Bob Hill picked up a technical during the stretch, and Prince’s jumper with 8:36 left capped the run.

Seattle slowly got back into the game with Allen’s three cutting the deficit to 90-85 with 5:33 on the clock. Wilcox then drained a short jumper, and after a Webber hook, Watson buried a three to make the score 92-90 with 4:11 remaining.

Webber converted another crucial hook just under one minute later, holding off the Sonics and increasing the lead to 95-92. After a Wallace free throw, Allen came off a screen for a three-pointer that drew the Sonics within one.

Billups answered with a three, then Allen made two free throws to make the score 99-97. Billups missed a jumper on the other end, but Allen missed a three-pointer and two other jumpers in the final minute before Hamilton’s free throws sealed the win.

Game Notes

The game featured seven ties and six lead changes...Seattle drained 14-of-15 from the charity stripe...The Sonics also had 10 offensive rebounds and buried 11 three-pointers...Seattle did, however, commit 21 turnovers...Attendance 15,960.