Pistons surge past Billups and Anthony-less Nuggets

[March 04, 2009]  AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Detroit fans rose to their feet for a former favorite, then had a reason to cheer the current Pistons, too.

Chauncey Billups scored a season-high 34 points in his return to the Palace, but the Pistons came away with the 100-95 victory Tuesday night against the Carmelo Anthony-less Denver Nuggets.

Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points for the Pistons and four of his teammates scored at least 16.

The Pistons have won three straight for the first time in two months -- after losing seven straight -- to move a game over .500 in a season that was stunted by a trade that sent Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson.

Iverson missed his third straight game with a back injury.

The Nuggets suspended Anthony for the game after he refused to go to the bench when coach George Karl tried to take him out of Denver's game.

Denver has lost five of seven, letting its lead in the Northwest Division slip to a game over Portland and 1 1/2 games ahead of Utah.

Nene scored 20 and J.R. Smith had 16 points for the Nuggets.

It sounded as if Billups was playing at home when he was introduced, setting off a standing ovation that lasted a couple of minutes and led to him blowing kisses in each direction. When he made shots early in the game, the crowd cheered.

The red-white-and-blue clad fans still adore him for the 2004 NBA title he led the Pistons to as finals MVP and for being their leader during a run of six straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals.

Detroit made the unpopular move of trading him to create playing time for second-year pro Rodney Stuckey, to clear about $20 million in salary cap space and to give the team a new look in the postseason.

In the short term, the trade hasn't helped the Pistons out. If they can add a star or two this summer or next and Stuckey emerges as a consistent standout, it might be viewed differently.

Detroit is 30-29 overall and is six games under .500 with Iverson in the starting lineup, where coach Michael Curry said the superstar will not return when his back is healthy enough for him to play.

Richard Hamilton, who will bump Iverson to the bench, scored 21 points against Denver.

Antonio McDyess had 16 points and 12 rebounds, Rasheed Wallace had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Stuckey added 17 points and some key offensive rebounds in the closing minutes when the Pistons were clinging to a lead.

Early on, it seemed as if Billups was going to star and win in his homecoming game.

He matched a season-high with 21 points in the first half, helping Denver earn a 10-point lead.

After it was 74-all entering the fourth quarter, Detroit took control with six straight points and its balanced offense proved to be too much for the Nuggets.

Notes: George Karl said Anthony "crossed the line" for refusing to go to the bench in Sunday's game at Indiana. ... In his first game against Detroit as an ex-Piston, Billups scored 30 points in a three-point loss on Jan. 9 at home. ... Nuggets TV analyst Scott Hastings, a former Piston, made a no-look, over-the-head shot from a chair on the sideline before the game. ... Detroit became the first team in the NBA to beat each of the division leaders with Sunday's win at Boston and now, it has beaten the Northwest Divison-leading Nuggets twice.

[Associated Press; By LARRY LAGE]

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