NBA roundup: Tuesday’s games

Pistons 136, Nuggets 120

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and Rasheed Wallace added 21 to lead Detroit. The Nuggets were coming off a record-setting 168-116 victory over Seattle, but it was Detroit’s offense that took over Tuesday night. The Pistons hadn’t scored 130 points in regulation since beating Denver 130-116 on March 8, 2000. The Pistons scored a season-high 73 points in the first half, getting at least four points from 10 different players. Detroit led by 22 at the intermission, but Denver narrowed the gap to 83-73 midway through the third. The Nuggets, though, couldn’t get an extended string of stops, and the Pistons still had a 100-89 advantage at quarter’s end. Wallace then put the game away with eight points in the first two minutes of the fourth, giving the Pistons a 110-93 lead. Linas Kleiza was thrown out of the game in the final minute for arguing a call. Chauncey Billups added 14 points and 10 assists for the Pistons, who had seven players in double figures. Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 27 points, while Allen Iverson had 20 points and 11 assists. Denver also had seven players in double figures. The Nuggets started quickly, leading 14-9 after five minutes, but it didn’t take Detroit long to take advantage of Denver’s porous defense. The Pistons shot 63 percent on their way to a 34-point first quarter, then went 5-of-7 on 3-pointers in a 39-point second quarter. Detroit also outrebounded the Nuggets 24-12 in the first half.

Bulls 112, Nets 96

CHICAGO — Luol Deng scored 20 points, and Drew Gooden had 19 points and 11 rebounds as theBulls built a big halftime lead, survived a sluggish third quarter and pulled away. New Jersey whittled a 24-point halftime deficit to nine early in the fourth quarter, but the Bulls didn’t falter. In its previous two games, Chicago squandered final-period leads and lost to the 76ers and Hornets.

Heat 112, Bucks 106

MILWAUKEE — Jason Williams and Ricky Davis had double-doubles, Chris Quinn hit three crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and the Heat snapped an 0-for-March streak. Miami had lost eight in a row. Quinn scored 17 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and the Heat rallied from a 14-point, second-half deficit to hand the Bucks their sixth straight loss. Williams finished with 21 points and 10 assists, while Davis had 14 points and 10 assists. Earl Barron scored 16 points and Daequan Cook added 12 for Miami, which improved to 6-26 on the road this season, including two wins in its last four away from home. Michael Redd scored 18 of his 27 points in the first half for Milwaukee, which has blown its fair share of big advantages in the second half this season, including an 11-point lead against Utah late in the fourth quarter on Wednesday.

Lakers 102, Mavericks 100

Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and Vladimir Radmanovic had 10 of his 21 in the final quarter, giving the Los Angeles Lakers just enough to hold off the Dallas Mavericks.

Associated Press