AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Chauncey Billups wants it all: NBA title No. 2, and an MVP trophy.

Billups helped the Detroit Pistons earn home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs and might have rekindled his MVP candidacy in the process.

He scored 35 points against reigning MVP Steve Nash, and his 3-pointer with 3:40 left put the Pistons ahead in a 109-102 win over Phoenix yesterday.

"I think I made a good case," Billups said. "It would mean a lot. Not as much as another championship, but it means a lot to even be mentioned."

In a matchup of MVP candidates, Billups was sensational while Nash struggled, shooting 4 of 11 for 13 points.

"Chauncey was amazing," Nash said.

The Pistons (59-14) clinched the best record ahead of Miami.

"This is the third of our five steps, but this one might be the most important of the first four, because of the 2-2-1-1-1 format in the conference finals," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said.

The first two goals were to make the playoffs and win the division, and the last two are to clinch the best record in the league and win a second title in three years.

Detroit trailed by 17 in the first half and 16 in the third quarter before coming back with a pair of 7-0 runs in the third. Billups scored 15 in the third and Ben Wallace had 10 of his 11 points.

The teams traded leads in the fourth quarter until Billups took over.

Billups put the Suns away with a 3-pointer from about 30 feet just before the shot clock expired, which Nash said won the game, and a go-ahead 3-pointer on the next possession, giving Detroit a 100-98 lead that it didn't relinquish.

Lakers 104, Rockets 88: Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his 43 points in the third quarter to help host Los Angeles beat Houston. The 40-point game was Bryant's 23rd of the season, tying a Lakers record set by Elgin Baylor in the 1962-63 season. Bryant has scored 40 or more four times in his past seven games.

Mavericks 103, Nuggets 79: Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points and 12 rebounds to help host Dallas snap a season-long three-game losing streak. Jason Terry scored 21 points and Josh Howard added 20 for the Mavericks, who had lost five of their previous seven and experienced the first three-game skid under coach Avery Johnson.

Timberwolves 106, Warriors 104: Ricky Davis made three free throws in the final 12 seconds of overtime and host Minnesota beat Golden State. Marcus Banks scored 24 points to lead Minnesota, which had all five starters score in double figures.

Grizzlies 98, Hawks 87: Chucky Atkins scored 19 points and Mike Miller added 18 to help host Memphis beat Atlanta. Pau Gasol added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis, which snapped a three-game losing skid and won its sixth straight over the Hawks.

NETS 90, HEAT 78: Vince Carter scored 43 points to outduel Dwyane Wade, and host New Jersey won its 12th straight game. A day after scoring a season-high 44 against Cleveland but losing to the Cavs and LeBron James' 47, Wade scored 32 points to lead Miami, which had won three of its past four games.

76ers 114, KNICKS 95: Allen Iverson scored 32 points as Philadelphia dominated visiting New York for the second straight game. Andre Iguodala added 20 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Sixers, who won their second game in three days over the woeful Knicks. Philadelphia had lost 10 of 12 before sweeping the home-and-home series against New York.

CAVALIERS 101, BOBCATS 97: LeBron James scored 35 points, including five free throws down the stretch, to help Cleveland beat host Charlotte for its eighth straight win. James, who was 13 for 24 from the field, added 12 rebounds and eight assists despite playing the final 6 minutes with five fouls. The Cavaliers matched their longest winning streak of the season. Cleveland also won eight straight from Nov. 7-22.

HORNETS 120, RAPTORS 113: Chris Paul had 24 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds for his first career triple-double as New Orleans beat host Toronto in double overtime. David West added 23 points for the Hornets, who have won three straight.

SuperSonics 122, Trail Blazers 83: Ray Allen scored 24 points to lead six Seattle players in double figures as the host SuperSonics handed Portland its 11th straight defeat. The 39-point difference was Seattle's largest margin of victory since a 38-point win over San Antonio on April 18, 2001.

Kings 106, Clippers 96: Ron Artest scored 26 points, Brad Miller had 25 points and nine rebounds, and host Sacramento beat the Los Angeles Clippers for the 12th straight time.

ELSEWHERE

Mavericks: Dallas forward Keith Van Horn will be sidelined indefinitely with a broken right hand. Van Horn was injured during the Mavericks' 108-99 loss Friday when he jammed his hand on the ball while attempting a steal.