Pistons Clinch 7th Straight Playoff Spot

[March 10, 2008]  AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Chauncey Billups matched a season high with 34 points, Richard Hamilton scored 23, and the Detroit Pistons beat the Chicago Bulls 116-109 Sunday night to clinching their seventh straight playoff berth.

Tayshaun Prince added 21 points for the Pistons, who ended a five-game losing streak against Chicago and prevented the Bulls from sweeping the season series for the first time since 1995-96.

Ben Gordon led Chicago with 27 points and Luol Deng added 21.

Both teams were short-handed, as Detroit All-Star Rasheed Wallace (ankle) missed his second straight game while Chicago's Chris Duhon was benched after missing the team's shootaround Sunday morning.

Detroit got another scare in the third quarter when Prince injured his right arm after being fouled by Larry Hughes on a drive to the basket. Prince stayed down for several minutes and appeared to be in a great deal of pain, but stayed in the game to make both free throws, then quickly added a 3-pointer and a driving dunk.

Those seven points helped Detroit turn a two-point lead into a 75-67 advantage, but a last-second jumper by Gordon pulled Chicago within three going into the fourth.

The Bulls got as close as two in the final period, but Prince's assist on Jason Maxiell's basket helped Detroit go up 100-94 with 5:16 to go.

Prince had 15 points in 17 minutes after the injury.

The Pistons finished the first quarter with a 13-2 run to go up by 10, then fought off a Chicago rally to take a 54-43 lead at halftime. Billups had 20 points in the half, while Gordon had 14 off the bench for the Bulls.

Notes: Chicago's Tyrus Thomas scored one point in four minutes in his first game after a two-game suspension for missing a practice last week. ... Pistons coach Flip Saunders picked up a second-quarter technical foul for crossing midcourt to argue a call. ... Even with the bad ankle, Wallace did his traditional pregame dance in the Detroit huddle. ... Prince got two loud cheers after the injury -- the first for making the first free throw despite obvious discomfort, and the second for changing out of his bloodstained jersey at center court before taking the second foul shot.

[Associated Press]

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