Prince of the Palace; Tayshaun stars as Pistons stay hot

Richard Hamilton contributed 15 points while Ben Wallace added 13 and tied a season-high with 21 boards for the red-hot Pistons, who have won 10 of their last 11 games and improved the league’s best record to a sparkling 26-4.

Detroit also extended its homecourt winning streak to 10 games and improved to 14-1 in its building this year.

Rashard Lewis poured in a game-high 27 points and added eight rebounds for the SuperSonics, who have dropped three of their last four games and fell for the first time under new head coach Bob Hill. The veteran coach took over the team on Tuesday when Seattle fired Bob Weiss.

Ray Allen had 22 points in the setback.

Leading 68-65 after three quarters, the Pistons extended the cushion in the final period. Hamilton’s field goal nearly six minutes into the frame capped a 12-5 spurt and gave Detroit an 80-70 advantage.

Prince’s bucket moments later widened the lead to 11 points, but the Sonics would not go away just yet.

Seattle closed within 83-76 on Allen’s three-pointer with 4:40 remaining, but that would be as close as the visitors would get. The Pistons quickly showed their championship resolve by scoring six straight points, keyed by three each from Hamilton and Billups, to claim a 13-point lead in the waning minutes.

The Sonics never threatened again.

Detroit led 26-21 after one quarter and held a slim 45-44 edge at the half. The Pistons had a 68-65 lead after 36 minutes of play.

Game Notes

The Pistons held a commanding 54-41 edge on the glass...Detroit has won three of the last four meetings, while the Sonics have now lost seven of their last eight in the Motor City.