Tayshaun Prince's 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left lifted the Detroit Pistons to a 90-89 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at The Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich., last night, overcoming Kobe Bryant's big night.
Bryant had 39 points and 10 rebounds, but didn't get a shot on the final possession, which ended with Lamar Odom's airball.
Bryant was upset about not getting a chance to lift the Lakers, but he talked calmly about it 30 minutes later. "What are you going to do when guys are open? If I catch the ball, what am I going to do, go one on three?" he asked. "We made the right play, we just didn't complete it."
The Pistons have won nine straight at home over the Lakers, including three games to win the 2004 NBA Finals.
Detroit led by as many as 17 in the first half, then fell behind when Bryant scored 10 straight points to put the Lakers ahead, 62-58, with 4:18 left in the third.
The Lakers led, 72-67, entering the fourth, and it was a seesaw game the rest of the way.
Prince led the Pistons with 22 points. Bryant didn't have much help. Derek Fisher scored 15 and Ronny Turiaf had 12 points.
With 16 seconds left, Prince passed to Billups, who dished to Rasheed Wallace, who missed a shot. The Pistons got to the offensive rebound and Prince was later open in the corner for a 3-pointer.
Spurs 84, Suns 81 - Tim Duncan banked in a shot with 30.9 seconds remaining, Manu Ginobili hit four late free throws, and undermanned San Antonio rallied to beat host Phoenix and end a three-game losing streak.
The Spurs trailed most of the game, but Duncan's big basket gave them an 80-79 lead. After the Suns turned the ball over, Ginobili hit a pair of free tosses with 15.6 seconds left. Amare Stoudemire then made a layup with 8.7 seconds to go, pulling the Suns within 82-81, but he missed a free throw - his fourth in the fourth period.
Ginobili completed the scoring with two more free throws with 6.5 seconds left, and a final Suns' shot went awry.
SuperSonics 101, Cavaliers 95 - Chris Wilcox scored Seattle's first 10 points, Kevin Durant had 12 of his 24 in the first quarter, and the SuperSonics held off a late rally from visiting Cleveland. The Cavaliers were playing without LeBron James (sprained ankle).
