Detroit stretches streak to 8
Richard Hamilton scored 19 points and the Detroit Pistons matched their best start since their first championship season with a 78-70 victory over the Rockets in Houston last night.
Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace added 14 points apiece for the Pistons, 8-0 for the first time since 1988-89 when they won the first of back-to-back NBA titles. If Detroit wins at Dallas tonight, the Pistons will match the 1970-71 squad for the best start in franchise history.
Yao Ming scored 20 points to lead the cold-shooting Rockets (3-6), off to their worst nine-game start since they opened 2-7 in 1999-00. Houston was 27 of 70 (38.6 percent) from the field and committed 19 turnovers.
Tracy McGrady went 3 for 16 from the field and scored only 6 points.
Cavaliers 102, Magic 84 -- Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half, LeBron James added 16, and Cleveland cruised to its fifth blowout win at home.
With their sixth consecutive victory, the Cavs improved to 7-2, matching the second-best start in franchise history. Only the 1976-77 squad, which started 8-0, has opened better.
Heat 106, 76ers 96 -- Dwyane Wade came within a rebound of a triple-double, scoring a season-high 32 points to help Miami end visiting Philadelphia's six-game winning streak.
Wade had 10 assists, 9 rebounds, and a season-high 6 dunks. Teammate Antoine Walker scored a season-high 26 points off the bench, shooting 11 for 13, including a trio of 3-pointers.
Clippers 97, Lakers 91 -- Elton Brand had 23 points, 14 rebounds, and blocked 5 shots to lead the Clippers over the host Lakers in Los Angeles.
Suns 102, Jazz 94 -- Eddie House made 7 of 11 3-point attempts en route to a career-high 31 points and host Phoenix handed Utah its fourth straight loss.
Pacers 93, Bobcats 85 -- Jermaine O'Neal had 29 points and 18 rebounds to help Indiana beat Charlotte at Indianapolis.
Nuggets 95, Knicks 86 -- Carmelo Anthony took over the game in the third quarter and finished with 25 points to help host Denver beat New York.
Hornets 95, Hawks 92 -- Rookie Chris Paul scored 25 points, including five late free throws, and New Orleans held off Atlanta's fourth-quarter rally to beat the winless Hawks at Oklahoma City.
Warriors 91, Trail Blazers 80 -- Jason Richardson had 28 points and seven rebounds to lead visiting Golden State over Portland.
Kings 103, Bucks 82 -- Peja Stojakovic scored 19 points, Mike Bibby had 17, and host Sacramento won consecutive games for the first time this season.
SuperSonics 98, Bulls 84 -- Ray Allen scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half to help host Seattle rally to beat Chicago.
