Pistons topple T-Wolves
Chauncey Billups scored 15 of his 21 points in the third quarter and the revitalized Detroit Pistons rallied to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 93-85 in Auburn Hills, Mich., on Wednesday night.
Billups, Ben Wallace and coach Larry Brown also returned to the Pistons after absences. Billups missed the previous game – a loss in Utah – with a sprained ankle. Wallace was out two games because of a death in his family and Brown missed five games – including three losses – with a hip problem.
Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 24 points and Tayshaun Prince added 19. Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, while Latrell Sprewell scored 24.
Pacers 93, Hawks 86: At Indianapolis, Jermaine O’Neal had 25 points and 13 rebounds to offset a dazzling performance by friend and former teammate Al Harrington in Indiana’s victory over Atlanta. Austin Croshere added 13 points, 13 rebounds and two electrifying dunks in the fourth quarter to help the Pacers ward off the Hawks. Harrington scored 30 points in his first game against his former team.
Wizards 110, Celtics 105 (OT): At Washington, Antawn Jamison scored 27 points, Gilbert Arenas had 25, and Washington shut out Boston for the first 4:47 of overtime. The Wizards blew a 13-point halftime lead but erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit as they broke a two-game losing streak. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with a season-high 37 points.
Magic 107, Jazz 92: At Orlando, Fla., Grant Hill scored 32 points and Steve Francis had season highs of 33 points and 11 assists in Orlando’s win over Utah. Playing a season-high 41 minutes, Hill added five rebounds and five assists. Carlos Boozer led Utah with 27 points and eight rebounds.
Suns 95, Hornets 84: At New Orleans, Amare Stoudemire’s career-high 38 points led Phoenix over winless New Orleans. The Hornets attempted only two foul shots, tying an NBA low and breaking the team mark they set in Milwaukee on Saturday night when they took only three. Hornets guard Baron Davis will miss at least five games after being put on the injured list because of an inflamed disc in his lower back.
Nuggets 112, Raptors 106: At Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points and Kenyon Martin added 24 points and 16 rebounds for Denver in its win over Toronto. Jalen Rose had 30 points – going 15 for 16 on free-throw attempts – Chris Bosh added 15 and Vince Carter 14 for Toronto.
Heat 113, Bucks 106: At Milwaukee, Shaquille O’Neal scored a season-high 26 points, and Eddie Jones had 27 to help Miami beat Milwaukee for the second time in four days. Michael Redd scored a season-high 33 points, Keith Van Horn 23 and Desmond Mason 18 for Milwaukee. Milwaukee placed Toni Kukoc on the injured list with a right hip strain before the game. Guard Mike James was activated from the injured list.
Warriors 98, Bulls 85: At Oakland, Calif., Jason Richardson had 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Golden State beat winless Chicago. Speedy Claxton added 14 points and 11 assists before fouling out late for the Warriors, who won at home for the first time in four games this season. Kirk Hinrich scored 15 points to lead the Bulls.
Grizzlies 101, Trail Blazers 82: At Portland, Bonzi Wells scored 25 points against his former team, and Memphis beat Portland for its first road victory of the season. Pau Gasol added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who led by as many as 34. Zach Randolph had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who shot only 39.2 percent.
Lakers 103, Clippers 89: At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant had 23 points, six rebounds and a season-high 11 assists, Chucky Atkins scored 12 of his 17 points in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles Lakers beat the visiting Los Angeles Clippers. Maggette led the Clippers with 24 points.
Marijuana charge dropped against Anthony
Prosecutors dropped a marijuana possession charge against Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, saying it would be tough to get a conviction after a friend claimed the drug was his, not Anthony’s.
Anthony was charged with possessing less than 1 ounce of marijuana on Oct. 15 after a bag with the drug was found in his backpack as the team waited to board a flight to Milwaukee for a preseason game.
Anthony said the drug belonged to a friend, James Cunningham. Cunningham signed an affidavit saying it was his.
Hornets activate Wagner
Cavaliers guard Dajuan Wagner was activated from the injured list after missing Cleveland’s first seven games this season with a sprained right ankle.
The club also placed forward Anderson Varejao on the injured list with knee tendinitis.