Pistons Are Outworked as Nuggets End Streak

The Detroit Pistons were trying to figure out what went wrong in a rare road loss.

Kenyon Martin had 28 points and 12 rebounds and Carmelo Anthony added 25 points to help the Denver Nuggets beat the Pistons, 98-87, on Wednesday night.

“I was trying to provide a lift for us and give us some energy, but it wouldn’t come,” said Denver native Chauncey Billups, who scored 27 for Detroit. “There were a couple of gimmes that we missed. I made the tough ones and missed the easy ones.”

Richard Hamilton added 19 points for Detroit, which had its six-game winning streak ended. The NBA’s best road team is now 21-8 away from home.

“We have been playing a lot of games home-road-home-road, so I think we were a little tired tonight,” Detroit Coach Flip Saunders said. “We’ll have to give some guys a rest down the stretch.”

And then there was the Nuggets’ 59-35 rebounding edge, with Marcus Camby grabbing 20 of them.

The game turned when the Nuggets forced the Pistons into six-of-24 third-quarter shooting, holding them without a field goal for nearly five minutes at one point.

Sacramento 97, Cleveland 90 -- Kenny Thomas scored 22 points at Cleveland to help hand the Cavaliers their fifth straight loss.

The Kings improved to 9-6 since acquiring Ron Artest, who limited LeBron James to 19 points on seven-for-21 shooting.

Phoenix 123, Milwaukee 110 -- Shawn Marion had 29 points and 18 rebounds and Steve Nash added 23 points and 13 assists at Phoenix to lead the Suns, who shot 57% and had seven double-figure scorers in their eighth straight victory.

Michael Redd led Milwaukee with 37 points.

Memphis 101, New York 99 -- Finishing with 23 points, Pau Gasol made a 15-foot baseline jumper with 2.7 seconds left at Memphis, Tenn., to help the Grizzlies hand the Knicks their fifth straight loss and 21st in the last 23 games. Stephon Marbury led the Knicks with 25 points.

Philadelphia 106, Houston 101 -- Allen Iverson scored 40 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and the 76ers rallied from an 11-point third-quarter deficit at Houston.

Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 25 points.

Indiana 99, Washington 93 -- Stephen Jackson scored 26 points and the Pacers overcame an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to end the Wizards’ nine-game home winning streak.

Gilbert Arenas had 28 points for Washington.

Miami 103, Boston 96 -- Dwyane Wade had 24 points and eight assists, Antoine Walker scored all of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, and the visiting Heat extended its winning streak to seven.

Paul Pierce, who set a Celtic record by averaging 33.5 points in February, scored 38 points.

Atlanta 113, Toronto 111 -- Joe Johnson and Al Harrington scored 26 points apiece at Toronto to help the Hawks post their third victory in their last four overtime games despite blowing a six-point lead in the final 34 seconds of the extra period.

Chris Bosh had 27 points for the Raptors, who have lost five in a row.

Minnesota 100, New Jersey 90 -- Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 16 rebounds and rookie Rashad McCants scored a season-high 21 at Minneapolis to help hand the Nets their third straight loss.

Vince Carter scored 29 for New Jersey.

Charlotte 104, Utah 89 -- Brevin Knight had 19 points and 10 assists and all five Bobcat starters scored in double figures in only their sixth road win this season.

Golden State 98, Orlando 94 -- Jason Richardson scored 11 of his 25 points in the final 1:49 at Oakland to help the Warriors end a four-game losing streak.