NBA Roundup for Sunday’s other games

Pistons 105, Hornets 84

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Jarvis Hayes scored 29 points, including a career-high seven 3-pointers, to lead Detroit to the win. Inspired by his alma mater, Hayes figured he was due for a big day, too. “Georgia made to the SEC championship game yesterday, and I’m just riding the wave,” Hayes said. “I was feeling good all day long.” Chauncey Billups finished with 17 points and Tayshaun Prince scored 13 for the Pistons, who have won four of five. The Hornets lost for just the second time in seven games. New Orleans was missing David West, who sprained his right ankle Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers. New Orleans got 21 points from Peja Stojakovic and Chris Paul added 14 points and 14 assists. “The one thing we wanted to do was make them shoot perimeter jump shots, but boy, they were knocking them down in the first half,” New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. “[Hayes] was a big surprise — a guy we didn’t mention a whole lot when we were talking about their team.”

Mavericks 98, Heat 73

MIAMI — Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points before sitting out most of the second half, and Dallas stormed out to a huge early lead on the way to the win. “We had to come out and really be focused,” Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. “Guys really challenged themselves.” Josh Howard added 15 for the Mavericks, who led by 20 points midway through the opening quarter and have beaten the Heat in each of the teams’ past eight regular-season meetings. Brandon Bass and Jason Terry each scored 14 and Jerry Stackhouse had 12 for Dallas, which snapped a three-game road losing skid and won their fifth straight overall. Earl Barron scored a career-high 21 for Miami, which set a season low in points and is a league-worst 11-54. “The beginning of the game, it was like we were stuck in mud,” Heat coach Pat Riley said. “We were not reacting to the ball. We were not reacting to drives. We were not reacting to anything.”

Hawks 109, Knicks 98

NEW YORK — Joe Johnson had 28 points and 11 assists, and Atlanta moved into a tie for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Marvin Williams added 25 points for the Hawks, who used their athleticism to break open what was only a five-point game early in the final quarter. “He’s trying to carry this team into the playoffs,” Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. “He’s putting them on his back and he’s playing well.” Johnson is averaging 29 points in his past eight games. “I am playing a little aggressive, really just taking what the defense is giving me,” the All-Star guard said. “My jumper’s been feeling pretty good, so I try to get a lot of shots in transition, and when I get to the basket they’re collapsing and my teammates know I’m going to kick it out. So we’ve been having a pretty nice flow on the offensive end.” Reserve Josh Childress had 14 of his 22 points in the second half and added nine rebounds. Atlanta (28-38) hasn’t made the playoffs since 1999, the NBA’s longest drought. The Hawks tied New Jersey for eighth place in the East, and following a game in Washington on Monday, they visit the Nets on Wednesday night. Nate Robinson scored 23 points for the Knicks, who have lost eight of nine.

Associated Press