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Phoenix entered with a seven-game winning streak, but lost to the Pistons for the second time in a month. The Pistons were missing All-Star guard Richard Hamilton (hip) and backup Juan Dixon (calf), which meant Lindsey Hunter played for the first time since Jan. 10.
Billups' three-point play gave the Pistons a 107-105 lead with 1:01 left in overtime.
Suns point guard Steve Nash missed a shot and Shaquille O'Neal fouled Antonio McDyess on the rebound. McDyess hit both free throws to give the Pistons a four-point advantage.
Rasheed Wallace blocked Amare Stoudemire's shot and the Pistons put the game away from the free-throw line.
Wallace had 23 points and nine rebounds for Detroit, while Stoudemire led Phoenix with 33.
The game was close throughout the first half, with neither team leading by more than five points. After 14 lead changes and 16 ties, the Pistons took a 51-50 lead into the intermission.
Not much changed in the third, with Rodney Stuckey's late jumper giving Detroit a 76-73 lead at the end of the quarter. The Pistons expanded the lead to seven in the opening seconds of the fourth.
Nash answered with two baskets and an assist in a 10-2 run that tied the game with 5:35 to play.
O'Neal's three-point play gave the Suns a 90-87 lead, but Grant Hill missed a pair of free throws that could have given the Suns a cushion. That let Billups tie the game with a pair from the line with 1:31 left.
Notes: Hunter had three points in 10 minutes in his second game since late December. ... Grant Hill, who started his career with the Pistons, playfully tossed wads of paper at Detroit broadcaster and former teammate Rick Mahorn while taking the court after a pair of second-half timeouts. ... The Pistons had a brief power play late in the game, as McDyess started shooting free throws before the Suns had replaced Raja Bell, who fouled out with 14 seconds to go.
[Associated Press; By TIM REYNOLDS]
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