Brown Goes Down in Detroit Return

The Detroit Pistons spent much of last season answering questions about Larry Brown.

They hope they won’t have to anymore.

The Pistons hugged their former coach before facing him for the first time -- and then played like the team that won him his only NBA championship.

Richard Hamilton scored a season-high 40 points to lead Detroit past Brown and the New York Knicks, 106-98, Friday night at Auburn Hills, Mich., after a couple of days of hype.

“Everybody was more worried about how the fans were going to react than the game,” Hamilton said. “We’re happy that it’s over, and we’re happy we got a win.”

Said Brown: “I want to get this behind me. But I don’t know if it ever will.”

Detroit showed Brown what he was missing with a dominant third quarter, showcasing a stifling defense and an improved offense.

After the score was tied at halftime, the Pistons outscored New York, 24-8, to take an 83-67 lead into the fourth quarter.

New York pulled to 93-88 with 3:29 left but couldn’t get closer.

“I’ve been watching them,” Brown said. “They had a lot of games where they had to make a shot, a play, or a stop and they do it. I know what they’re about. They’re pretty special.”

Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince had 19 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.

Golden State 107, Charlotte 100 -- Baron Davis had 21 points and 14 assists at Oakland to lead the Warriors to their fifth straight victory and into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division for the first time since March 2, 1992.

Phoenix 102, Denver 97 -- Reserve Eddie House sparked a fourth-quarter rally with nine straight points at Phoenix and the Suns won their fifth consecutive game. Marcus Camby had 33 points and 20 rebounds for the Nuggets.

New Orleans 88, Philadelphia 86 -- David West scored 22 points, including a tiebreaking layup with 50.4 seconds left, to lift the Hornets over the 76ers at Oklahoma City. Allen Iverson missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Indiana 98, Portland 78 -- Jermaine O’Neal scored 27 points and had 15 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season and the Pacers, playing on the road for the fourth time in six days, won at Portland, Ore.

Chicago 106, Boston 102 -- Luol Deng scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and Ben Gordon had 20 points to lift the Bulls at Boston. Paul Pierce had 43 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics.

Seattle 115, Cleveland 108 -- Rashard Lewis scored 26 points and the SuperSonics ended a three-game losing streak and overcame a 34-point performance by LeBron James at Seattle.

Miami 98, Sacramento 87 -- Dwyane Wade had 27 points and seven assists and Alonzo Mourning blocked seven shots at Sacramento, as the Heat won its fourth straight over the Kings.

Toronto 102, Atlanta 101 -- Rookie Charlie Villanueva scored 22 points, including the go-ahead basket with 2.5 seconds left at Atlanta, as the Raptors ended a six-game losing streak.

Milwaukee 105, Washington 102 -- Maurice Williams scored 14 of his career-high 35 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer at the buzzer, to lead the Bucks at Washington.

Memphis 91, Orlando 69 -- Mike Miller scored 25 points, including four three-pointers, in his first game back from a concussion to lead the Grizzlies over the Magic at Memphis, Tenn.