Pistons Lock Up Cavaliers

When LeBron James shot two airballs on the same possession in the first quarter, it was a sign of things to come.

Richard Hamilton had 21 points and the Detroit Pistons held the Cleveland Cavaliers to a six-point third quarter and almost held James scoreless in the second half in an 81-69 victory Thursday night at Auburn Hills, Mich.

James finished with a season-low 11 points on four-of-21 shooting, eight rebounds and seven assists.

“I missed a lot of shots that I’m normally going to make, but they were playing really tough defense against me,” said James, who scored a career-low four points last year as a rookie. “Every time I came off a screen, they doubled me.”

James scored a career-high 43 points the last time he faced the Pistons, a 92-76 win on Nov. 28 in Cleveland.

The Pistons erased a 10-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Cavaliers, 21-6, in the third quarter and leading by double digits for much of the fourth.

Cleveland guard Eric Snow was sent to the locker room after arguing with Coach Paul Silas in the first half. He returned to the bench after halftime but did not play.

Chicago 85, Milwaukee 77 -- Kirk Hinrich had nine of his 28 points in a 15-0 run at Chicago to help the Bulls win consecutive games for the first time this season while sending the Bucks to their 13th loss in their last 16 games. Michael Redd had 22 points for Milwaukee.