Pistons Plug Away to Win Third in Row

After struggling for most of December, the Detroit Pistons will bring a winning streak into 2004.

Chauncey Billups scored 22 points and Ben Wallace had 10 points and 15 rebounds, leading the Pistons to a 78-71 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Detroit started December with seven losses in 11 games before winning its final three.

The Pistons also got 13 points from Richard Hamilton. Corliss Williamson had 12 points and a season-high 10 rebounds off the bench.

“I’m thrilled with this game,” Piston Coach Larry Brown said.

“We couldn’t make a shot for most of the game, but we hung in there and played outstanding defense. We just kept plugging away.”

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New Orleans 96, Boston 94 -- The Hornets relied on Baron Davis and one of their best defensive performances of the season to end a road losing streak at four.

Davis had 29 points and 10 assists, and P.J. Brown had 15 points and 14 rebounds as the Hornets improved to 3-0 against the Celtics this season.

The Celtics’ Paul Pierce scored 14 points on four-for-16 shooting. He was one for 10 in the first half. Ricky Davis scored eight points on three-for-12 shooting.

“[David] Wesley did a great job on Ricky Davis and the combination of George [Lynch] and Stacey [Augmon] stopping Pierce was terrific,” Hornet Coach Tim Floyd said.

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New Jersey 88, Golden State 70 -- Jason Kidd had seven points and two assists during a 13-3 third-quarter run that led the Nets past the Warriors at East Rutherford, N.J.

Kidd finished with 23 points, seven assists and four rebounds in only 29 minutes, helping the Nets win for the their 10th time in 13 games.

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Houston 80, Philadelphia 72 -- Yao Ming scored 21 points and Cuttino Mobley had 20 at Houston to help the Rockets hand the 76ers their fourth consecutive loss -- all on the road and all without Allen Iverson, who is sidelined because of a right knee contusion.