NBA Roundup:Thursday’s games

Pistons 85, Heat 69

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Rookie Arron Afflalo had career highs of 15 points and seven rebounds as Detroit clinched the Central Division title. Detroit came in having lost three of four, and struggled against the hapless Heat. The Pistons were missing All-Star guard Richard Hamilton (hip) for the third straight game. Miami, which only dressed nine players, has lost 13 of 15. Reserve Jason Maxiell had 15 points for Detroit, while Chauncey Billups added 13 points and 11 assists. Rookie Blake Ahearn, who came into the game with seven career points, led Miami with 15, but only two other players reached double figures.

Nuggets 118, Mavericks 105

DENVER — Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points and sparked the decisive run in the third quarter of Denver’s win over Dallas. Allen Iverson added 31 points for the Nuggets, who won their fourth straight and moved into a tie with Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot, one game behind the Mavericks. The Nuggets’ night was capped when forward Nene entered the game with 1:17 left, marking his return to the court 21‚Ñ2 months after surgery to remove a malignant testicular tumor, and just over a month after undergoing chemotherapy.

Associated Press