Pistons are too deep for Cavaliers

Chauncey Billups scored 18 points, Chris Webber and Rasheed Wallace had 15 apiece and the Detroit Pistons reminded the Cavaliers who’s the boss in the NBA Central with a 90-78 win Sunday at Cleveland.

Billups added 10 assists, Wallace 13 rebounds and the division-leading Pistons won their fifth straight regular-season game over the Cavaliers, who pushed them to seven games in last season’s playoffs.

Webber’s presence is bad news for the Cavaliers, who don’t appear ready to dethrone their Michigan neighbors. Webber scored 13 points in the first half on six-of-seven shooting when the Pistons grabbed control and never let go.

LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 21 points, but the All-Star forward was only nine for 22 from the field and had a few tough layups roll out.

Atlanta 101, New Jersey 99 -- Tyronn Lue made a 23-foot jumper at the buzzer to lift the Hawks to the overtime victory, giving them their first three-game road winning streak since December 2000.

Joe Johnson scored 37 points and Josh Smith atoned for a subpar game, scoring six of his 14 points in overtime to help the Hawks win their ninth road game this season and exceed their entire total last year.

The game-winning shot came after Vince Carter made a three-pointer to tie the score, 99-99, with 2.9 seconds to play.