Pistons stop Magic to clinch the East

For one half Wednesday, it resembled the late 1990s at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Grant Hill was attacking the basket and scoring at will, just as he did in his prime with the Pistons a decade ago. In the second half, though, it was the current Pistons who took over.

Detroit held Hill to four points in the second half, and the Pistons went on to a 104-99 victory over his visiting Orlando Magic to clinch home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference and their fifth Central Division title in six years.

“We made a couple adjustments against him, but mainly we just paid a lot more attention,” said Chauncey Billups, who led Detroit with 28 points. “He was tough. It was like the old days.”

Hill finished with 22 points but eighth-place Orlando’s lead over Indiana was cut to one game in the race for the final Eastern playoff spot.

As for the division title, Detroit wasn’t excited.

“That’s nothing,” Tayshaun Prince said in a low-key locker room. “After what [General Manager] Joe Dumars has brought here, and what we’ve accomplished on the floor, we’re not going to get excited about this. We’re not going to celebrate a thing unless we win it all.”

Indiana 104, Milwaukee 98 -- Mike Dunleavy scored 25 points, including four late free throws, to keep the visiting Pacers in the playoff race.

Miami 85, Washington 82 -- Playing without Shaquille O’Neal, who was attending a funeral, Dwyane Wade had 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds at Miami to help the Heat clinch the East’s Southeast Division.

Phoenix 109, Seattle 91 -- Shawn Marion had 24 points and 10 rebounds and the host Suns stayed two games ahead of the Spurs in the fight for the No. 2 playoff spot in the Western Conference.

San Antonio 109, Sacramento 100 -- Tim Duncan scored 13 of 26 points in the fourth quarter to help the Spurs rally from a five-point deficit at San Antonio to sweep the season series with the Kings, who played without Ron Artest (hamstring).

Houston 99, Portland 95 -- Tracy McGrady had 32 points to help the visiting Rockets move 1 1/2 games ahead of Utah in the West in the fight for home-court advantage in their likely first-round playoff series.

Denver 115, Utah 106 -- Allen Iverson had 22 points and 12 assists, and Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points at Salt Lake City to lead the Nuggets to their seventh straight victory while handing the Jazz its fifth straight loss.

Dallas 105, Minnesota 88 -- Resting Dirk Nowitzki and Jerry Stackhouse, the Mavericks set a franchise record with their 30th road victory. Josh Howard and Jason Terry scored 16 points apiece.

Philadelphia 102, Boston 94 -- Steven Hunter tied a career-high with 20 points at Boston.