Pistons pay a visit to Cavaliers

The Pistons lead the division by a game over idle Chicago, while the Cavs are 1 1/2 games off the pace. Detroit has won two in a row and four of its last five games, including Sunday’s 97-93 win over Seattle at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Jason Maxiell knocked down a baseline jumper with 6.8 seconds left to give Detroit the lead for good. Maxiell ended with 17 points and 12 rebounds, both career highs, and Richard Hamilton added 24 points. Chauncey Billups had 21 points and eight assists for the Pistons.

Detroit is 8-5 away from the Motor City this season. It is expected to have forward Rasheed Wallace back in the lineup after he has missed the last two games because of an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Cleveland has dropped two in a row and three of five. On Wednesday the Cavaliers suffered a 113-111 loss to the New Jersey Nets at Continental Airlines Arena.

LeBron James poured in 37 points and dished out eight assists and Larry Hughes added 19 points and grabbed five boards for the Cavaliers, who lost both games on a brief two-game road trip. Cleveland will return home for two games against Detroit and Orlando and is 11-2 as the host this season.

Detroit, which defeated the Cavs in seven games in last year’s conference semifinals, has won three straight, four of five and six of the last nine meetings.

The Pistons, though, have lost four of their last six visits to Cleveland.