Pistons Climbing With Hill

Grant Hill believes the Detroit Pistons have finally figured out the secret to climbing the NBA ladder from mediocrity to respectability.

“When we needed to make the plays we did,” Hill said Monday night after leading Detroit with 27 points, including four during the Pistons’ game-closing 10-0 run in a 98-92 victory over the Raptors at Toronto.

“I’m always looking to make something happen,” said Hill, who also had 12 rebounds. “When you’re in close games like this, the more experience you get, the better you are.”

Damon Stoudamire, who led the Raptors with 28 points, made a three-point shot to give Toronto a 92-88 lead with 4:13 to play.

Lindsey Hunter brought the Pistons within 92-90 with a layup, and Hill, who made 11 of 18 shots from the floor, followed with a layin to tie it 92-92.

Otis Thorpe tipped in a Hill miss to give the Pistons a 96-92 lead, and Hill made a 13-foot jumper with 9.9 seconds left.

Milwaukee 107, Boston 91--In his first official visit to Boston’s FleetCenter, Buck Coach Chris Ford found it much more hospitable to visitors than the Celtics’ old place.

The victory gave Ford a small measure of revenge against M.L. Carr, who fired Ford and named himself Celtic coach after the 1994-95 season.

“We, as players, had it in our minds that it was an important game,” said Vin Baker, who scored 28 points and had 11 rebounds.

Washington 97, Sacramento 89--The Kings scored only 15 points in the third quarter in falling to the Bullets at Sacramento. Chris Webber had 24 points and 14 rebounds for Washington.