Celtics’ losing streak is now 15

Chauncey Billups scored 24 points and Antonio McDyess added 18 in only 20 minutes Tuesday night to help the Detroit Pistons defeat the Boston Celtics, 109-102, at Auburn Hills, Mich.

It was the Celtics’ 15th loss in a row.

“We really didn’t have a chance,” Boston Coach Doc Rivers said. “We played a better team tonight.”

The Celtics haven’t won since Jan. 5, a 128-119 victory in Memphis. They have given up at least 100 points in five consecutive games.

McDyess made his first eight shots before Kendrick Perkins blocked the ninth.

“I got some easy baskets early and I just kept going,” he said. “He didn’t foul me on the ninth one, either. That was a good block.”

Boston also had to send forward Paul Pierce home because of an infected left elbow. Pierce, who has missed Boston’s last 23 games because of a foot injury, is expected to be hospitalized for at least two days, which will push his possible return back past the All-Star break.

Phoenix 109, Portland 102 -- Amare Stoudemire scored 36 points and Leandro Barbosa added 23 of his 25 after halftime to lead the Suns to an overtime victory at Portland, Ore.

Phoenix was missing two-time NBA most valuable player Steve Nash, who sat out because of a shoulder injury that kept him out of the second half in Monday’s 113-108 victory over Denver.

Houston 98, Memphis 90 -- Tracy McGrady scored 33 points and had eight assists at Memphis, Tenn., to lead the Rockets to their sixth victory in seven games.

Milwaukee 116, Orlando 111 -- Ruben Patterson scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and the struggling Bucks ended a four-game losing streak with a victory at Milwaukee.

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Tyrus Thomas of the Chicago Bulls now has incentive to win the NBA’s slam dunk contest. He needs to pay a $10,000 fine handed to him by the team.

Thomas was quoted in Tuesday’s editions of the Chicago Tribune as saying: “I’m just going to go out there, get my check and call it a day.”

When asked if being around some of the game’s greats could be beneficial for a rookie, he responded, “I’m just into the free money. That’s it. I’ll just do whatever when I get out there.”

The winner of the Feb. 17 event in Las Vegas gets $35,000. The runner-up earns $22,500, with the third and fourth-place finishers getting $16,125.

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Milwaukee Bucks center Dan Gadzuric dislocated his left shoulder Saturday night in a loss to the Miami Heat and will miss six weeks.