Billups get ovation, loss in return to Detroit

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. " Detroit fans rose to their feet for a former favorite, then had a reason to cheer the current Pistons, too.

Chauncey Billups scored a season-high 34 points in his return to the Palace, but the Pistons came away with the 100-95 victory Tuesday night against the Carmelo Anthony-less Denver Nuggets.

Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points for the Pistons and four of his teammates scored at least 16.

The Pistons have won three straight for the first time in two months " after losing seven straight " to move a game over .500 in a season that was stunted by a trade that sent Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson.

Iverson missed his third straight game with a back injury.

The Nuggets suspended Anthony for the game after he refused to go to the bench when coach George Karl tried to take him out of Denver's game.

Denver has lost five of seven, letting its lead in the Northwest Division slip to a game over Portland and 1 1/2 games ahead of Utah.

Magic 111, Suns 99

ORLANDO, Fla. " Dwight Howard had 21 points and eight rebounds in a bruising battle with Shaquille O'Neal, and Orlando's new All-Star center get the best of it's first star big man.

Rashard Lewis had 29 points and Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 for the Magic, who overcame a season-high 24 turnovers.

O'Neal finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, outmuscling his first NBA team for most of the night before he lost his cool late, again drawing boos by the Orlando crowd.

Nets 99, Bucks 95

MILWAUKEE " Brook Lopez scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Jarvis Hayes hit a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 18 seconds left to lift New Jersey.

It was the Nets third win in the last four games after a five-game losing streak

Bobcats 96, Bulls 80

CHARLOTTE, N.C. " Raymond Felton had 18 points and nine assists, Raja Bell also scored 18 points and Charlotte won its season-high fourth straight.

Rockets 107, Raptors 97

HOUSTON " Carl Landry matched a career high with 22 points, Luis Scola added 20 points and 16 rebounds and Houston extended its home-court winning streak to 10 games.

Yao Ming added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who moved a game ahead of New Orleans and Portland and 1 1/2 in front of Utah in the Western Conference standings. The Rockets play the Jazz in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.

Warriors 118, Timberwolves 94

MINNEAPOLIS " Stephen Jackson, who had been benched the past two games as part of coach Don Nelson's youth movement, had 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead Golden State.

Corey Maggette added 16 points and Andris Biedrins had 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Warriors, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Kevin Love had 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who trailed by 31 points in the first half and lost for the seventh time in a row and 15th time in their last 17 games.

Pacers 117, Kings 109

SACRAMENTO, Calif. " Jarrett Jack scored 26 points and Troy Murphy had 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to lead Indiana.

The Pacers pulled within two games of Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Kevin Martin scored 21 points for the Kings, who have dropped two straight and five of six.