Billups upstages Nash, Suns
Chauncey Billups wants it all: NBA title No. 2, and an MVP trophy.
Billups helped the Detroit Pistons earn home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs and might have rekindled his MVP candidacy in the process.
He scored 35 points against reigning MVP Steve Nash and his 3-pointer with 3:40 left put the Pistons ahead in a 109-102 win over Phoenix on Sunday in Auburn Hills, Mich.
“I think I made a good case,” Billups said. “It would mean a lot. Not as much as another championship, but it means a lot to even be mentioned.”
In a matchup of MVP candidates, Billups was sensational while Nash struggled, shooting 4 of 11 for 13 points.
Detroit expects to be without Rasheed Wallace on Tuesday at home against the Hornets. Wallace is subject to a one-game suspension for picking up his 16th technical foul.
76ers 114, Knicks 95: At Philadelphia, Allen Iverson scored 32 points and dominated New York for the second straight game to lead the 76ers to a win over the injury-depleted Knicks.
Lakers 104, Rockets 88: At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his 43 points in the third quarter to help the Lakers beat Houston. The 40-point game was Bryant’s 23rd of the season, tying a Lakers record set by Elgin Baylor in the 1962-63 season.
Mavericks 103, Nuggets 79: At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points and 12 rebounds to help the Mavericks snap a season-long three-game losing streak.
Timberwolves 106, Warriors 104 (OT): At Minneapolis, Ricky Davis made three free throws in the final 12 seconds of overtime and Minnesota hung on to beat Golden State.
Grizzlies 98, Hawks 87: At Memphis, Tenn., Chucky Atkins scored 19 points and Mike Miller added 18 to help the Grizzlies beat Atlanta.
Nets 90, Heat 78: At East Rutherford, N.J., Vince Carter scored 43 points to outduel Dwyane Wade and New Jersey beat Miami for the Nets’ 12th straight win.
Cavaliers 101, Bobcats 97: At Charlotte, N.C., LeBron James scored 35 points, including five free throws down the stretch, to help Cleveland hold off the Bobcats for its eighth straight win.
Hornets 120, Raptors 113 (2 OT): At Toronto, Chris Paul had 24 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds for his first career triple-double, and New Orleans beat the Raptors.
Clippers 106, Kings 96: At Sacramento, Calif., Ron Artest scored 26 points, Brad Miller had 25 points and nine rebounds and the Kings beat Los Angeles for the 12th straight time.
Around the league
Starters Jalen Rose (plantar fasciitis) and Stephon Marbury (strained knee) sat out New York’s game against Philadelphia. After missing Friday’s game with a sprained toe on his right foot, Steve Francis was not in the starting lineup and did not check in until late in the first quarter. … Dallas forward Keith Van Horn will be sidelined indefinitely with a broken right hand suffered Friday night.