NBA ROUNDUP : For a Change, Pistons Win; Dumars Gets 44

Joe Dumars took over in the fourth quarter, but that’s nothing new for the Detroit Pistons.

What’s new is, they won.

Dumars scored 22 points in the last 7 1/2 minutes Wednesday at Auburn Hills, where Detroit beat the New Jersey Nets, 114-97.

He finished with 44 points, including 19 during a 22-4 fourth-quarter run that started when the Pistons’ lead was only 87-84. Dumars began the run with a fall away jump shot and ended it with a three-point play as Detroit won for the first time since Feb. 19.

It was only after the Pistons had ended a seven-game losing streak that Dumars could enjoy his night.

“I had 42 points the other night in Milwaukee and it didn’t mean anything because we didn’t get the win,” he said. “It was a big win for us because we took a step up in the fourth quarter when it counted.”

They had taken a step back only two nights before, when the Knicks closed them out with a 42-12 spurt.

Terry Mills had 30 points and 13 rebounds for Detroit, and rookie guard Lindsey Hunter, filling in for the injured Isiah Thomas, had 18 points and a career-high 15 assists.

The defeat was the third in four games for New Jersey.

Portland 122, Utah 99--This was the worst loss of the season for the Jazz, and it ended a 10-game winning streak. The game at Portland marked the fourth in five nights for the Jazz.

Rod Strickland tied his season high with 27 for the Trail Blazers, who have won nine consecutive games at home and 10 of 11 overall.

Indiana 105, Milwaukee 94--Reggie Miller scored 10 of his 22 points in the final quarter at Milwaukee as the Pacers won for the 15th time in 18 games.

Rookie Vin Baker had 21 points for the Bucks, who lost for the 16th time in 24 home games.

New York 90, Atlanta 83--Patrick Ewing scored nine of his 25 points in the final 5:24 as the Knicks extended their winning streak to four games and climbed to within a game of the Hawks in the East. Atlanta lost for only the fourth time in 30 games at its Omni.

Orlando 117, Philadelphia 101--Shaquille O’Neal had 40 points and 14 rebounds at Philadelphia as the Magic extended the 76ers’ losing streak to 14 games.

Miami 102, Denver 80--Glen Rice scored 26 points as the Heat maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half at Miami.

Rony Seikaly had 22 points for the Heat, which has won eight of nine games and has an average margin of victory of 20.9 points in those victories.

Sacramento 104, Minnesota 96--Mitch Richmond scored 35 points as the Kings snapped a five-game losing streak and earned a rare victory on the road. The Timberwolves, who lost their sixth consecutive game and for the 18th time in 20 games, have only one starter, Doug West, at full strength.

Phoenix 142, Washington 106--Cedric Ceballos had 36 points and 10 rebounds and Charles Barkley scored 24 points for the Suns at Landover, Md., in their most lopsided victory of the season.