Boozer keys Cavaliers' triumph over Pistons

Carlos Boozer compensated for LeBron James' cold-shooting night.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Carlos Boozer has emerged as LeBron James' running mate.
Boozer had 21 points and 15 rebounds Tuesday to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to an 85-82 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Boozer, in his second NBA season, is averaging 22.2 points and 14.4 rebounds during the past eight games for the Cavaliers, who have won seven of nine.
"I want him as my power forward until I retire," James said.
Some thought James -- coming off a career-high 38-point game -- would have a big night against the Pistons, hours after finding out he was passed over for the All-Star game.
It didn't happen.
Bad shooting night
The sensational rookie had an awful shooting night -- 5-for-19 -- and had 12 points, six assists, only one turnover and four rebounds. James made four of eight shots for eight points in the first quarter, then went cold.
Pistons coach Larry Brown was still impressed.
"The kid's so unselfish," Brown said. "It's kind of neat. He doesn't force things."
Boozer made two free throws with 8.9 seconds left, after grabbing an offensive rebound off one of James' many missed shots, to give Cleveland the lead for good.
"This win is right up there," Cleveland coach Paul Silas said. "It's a great win for us -- a very significant step."
Down to the wire
Chauncey Billups, who missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer, had 19 points for the Pistons.
"We had it in our hands and just dropped it," Billups said.
Detroit's Richard Hamilton had 18 points, Tayshaun Prince added 13 and Ben Wallace had 17 rebounds, five blocks and five points.
The Pistons had won four straight by a total of eight points, and five straight at home against Cleveland.
Detroit fought back from a 15-point, first-quarter deficit to take the lead in the third quarter.
However, they missed 13 straight shots and their four-point lead turned into a 77-71 deficit midway through the fourth quarter.
"We can't keep digging holes like we have been early," Wallace said. "It takes too much out of us when we have to keep coming back in games."
Hamilton drove past James for a layup to put the Pistons ahead 80-79 with 2:49 left.
Cavs regain lead
Cleveland went back ahead with 1:37 remaining when Elden Campbell was called for goaltending on Boozer's layup.
Hamilton's runner tied it at 82 with 31.5 seconds left.
DeSagana Diop missed one of two free throws with 2.2 seconds left, leaving the Pistons with a chance to force overtime, but Billups missed a 3-pointer.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 15 points, and Jeff McInnis added 11 for the Cavaliers.