DETROIT — Tayshaun Prince’s three-pointer
with four seconds left lifted the Detroit Pistons to a 90-89 win
over the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA action on Thursday.
Detroit’s ninth consecutive home win over Los
Angeles was achieved despite 39 points and 10 rebounds from the
Lakers’ Kobe Bryant.
Prince scored the winner after chasing down a
missed three-pointer by teammate Rasheed Wallace and getting the
ball to Chauncey Billups, who found Prince alone on the left
wing.
"Chauncey made the perfect play," Prince
said. "Usually when you get an offensive rebound, you get the
draw and kick and the probability is of a high-percentage shot."
Prince led Detroit with 22 points, Billups
got 16 and Richard Hamilton 14. Derek Fisher added 15 points for
Los Angeles.
Bryant had rallied the Lakers from a 17-point
first-half deficit with 10 successive points in the third
period. That gave Los Angeles a 62-58 advantage with 4:18 left
in the period.
"We had done a good job defensively (on
him)," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said. "He had 11 turnovers.
But when he gets it going like that. I mean, the guy has scored
81 in a game."
A tight game followed with the Lakers leading
89-87 on Ronny Turiaf’s free throw with 17 seconds to play
before Prince nailed his three-pointer.
Los Angeles still had a chance but Lamar Odom
missed a jumper with two seconds to go.
Ray Allen and Paul Pierce scored 26 points
each to lead the Boston Celtics to a 96-90 home win over the
Dallas Mavericks.
Rajon Rondo clinched the win on a reverse
layup with 42 seconds remaining which broke a 90-90 tie. James
Posey then made four consecutive free throws for the Celtics.
Dirk Nowitzki contributed 31 points and 11
rebounds for Dallas.
The Seattle SuperSonics scored a 101-95 win
over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were playing without the
injured LeBron James.
Kevin Durant scored 24 points and Chris
Wilcox contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds for the SuperSonics.
The San Antonio Spurs rallied to beat the
Phoenix Suns 84-81 behind Tim Duncan’s 16 points and 17
rebounds.
Manu Ginobili added 19 points and Jacque Vaughn had 17. Shawn
Marion had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix.
