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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, November 15, 2008

Pistons drop Lakers to first loss of season

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Denver guard Chauncey Billups falls into two courtside photographers while chasing a loose ball in last night's game against Boston.

CHARLES KRUPA | Associated Press

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LOS ANGELES — The new-look Detroit Pistons still have the Los Angeles Lakers' number.

Rasheed Wallace had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Allen Iverson added 25 points and the Pistons handed the Lakers their first loss of the season, 106-95 last night.

The win was the Pistons' eighth in the last 10 meetings.

Kobe Bryant scored 29 points for the Lakers, but went 12-of-30 from the floor.

"We just played a good all-around game," Iverson said after the Pistons won for the third time since his arrival from Denver five games ago. "It's just about playing basketball, understanding what we want to do on the basketball court.

"We made them take tough, contested shots," Iverson added. "When they missed, we got out and ran and took advantage."

The Pistons beat the Lakers in Los Angeles despite playing back to back games — Detroit won at Golden State the previous night.

Both Bryant and Iverson moved up on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Bryant has 21,817 points and jumped into 21st ahead of Larry Bird (21,791) and Gary Payton (21,813). Iverson (23,156) passed Elgin Baylor (23,149) to jump to No. 19.

Iverson was playing his fifth game since being traded from Denver to Detroit, and the Pistons are 3-2 since his arrival.

Tayshaun Prince added 18 points in Detroit's balanced scoring. Former Laker Kwame Brown had a double-double, with 10 rebounds and 10 points, and Richard Hamilton also scored 10.

"We knew if we were patient we could get any shot we wanted," Prince said.

Pau Gasol had 10 points and was the only Lakers' starter other than Bryant in double figures. Lamar Odom had 11 points and Trevor Ariza 10.

The Pistons moved in front to stay late in the first quarter and held a double-digit lead for most of the second half.

NUGGETS 94, CELTICS 85

BOSTON — Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups had 18 points each and Kenyon Martin added 16 as Denver improved to 4-1 since acquiring Billups from Detroit by snapping Boston's six-game winning streak with its third victory in 19 games on the Celtics' home floor.

KNICKS 116, THUNDER 106

NEW YORK — Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph each scored 29 points, combining for 10 in the final 4 minutes as New York held on to beat Oklahoma City, which trimmed a 30-point deficit to 102-95, but could get no closer in losing its sixth straight game.

BOBCATS 104, JAZZ 96

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Raymond Felton scored 23 points and Gerald Wallace added 22 to lead host Charlotte past Utah, which got 26 points and 15 rebounds from Carlos Boozer, but committed 20 turnovers in losing for the third time in four games following a 5-0 start.

76ERS 94, PACERS 92

INDIANAPOLIS — Thaddeus Young had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Elton Brand added 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Philadelphia overcame a 26-point deficit, using a 9-0 run to take a 94-90 lead in the final minute, before hanging on to beat Indiana.

NETS 115, HAWKS 108

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Devin Harris, back in the lineup after missing three games because of a sprained left ankle, scored 30 points and New Jersey got career-best nights from rookies Brook Lopez (25 points), and Ryan Anderson (15) to beat Atlanta and end a three-game losing streak.

MAGIC 102, MAVS 100

DALLAS — Rashard Lewis scored 23 points, including the tying and go-ahead points on free throws with 10.9 seconds left, and Jameer Nelson made one of two free throws with seven seconds as Orlando kept Dallas winless at home (0-4) under new coach Rick Carlisle.

HORNETS 87, BLAZERS 82

NEW ORLEANS — David West scored 18 points and James Posey hit two 3-pointers in the final minute for New Orleans' only field goals in the last 8:30 to turn back Portland, who got a career-best 11 points from center Greg Oden, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft, in his second game back from a sprained foot.

BUCKS 101, GRIZZLIES 96

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Richard Jefferson had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Ramon Sessions added 20 points, including a pair of free throws for a 95-94 lead with 42.6 seconds left in overtime, and Milwaukee never trailed again in turning back Memphis, which has lost four straight.

SUNS 97, KINGS 95

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Shaquille O'Neal tied a season high with 29 points and had 13 rebounds and six assists, and Amare Stoudemire hit a tie-breaking jumper for a 97-95 lead with 4.5 seconds left in overtime, then blocked a shot at the buzzer as Phoenix beat Sacramento.

SPURS 77, ROCKETS 75

SAN ANTONIO — Tim Duncan scored 22 points and blocked Aaron Brooks' layup with a second left, and rookie George Hill, playing in place of Tony Parker (out with injured left ankle) at point guard added 17 points as San Antonio rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat Houston.

HEAT 97, WIZARDS 77

MIAMI — Dwyane Wade scored 24 points before taking the fourth quarter off, Michael Beasley added 19 points, and Miami held Washington to three free throws in a 20-3 run over the last seven minutes of the third quarter to open up a 76-53 lead en route to a victory.