NBA : Pistons throttle Lakers
Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points and Chris Webber had 18 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 93-78 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night at Auburn Hills, Mich.
The Pistons have won five straight – building a two-game lead for the best record in the Eastern Conference – and are 9-2 with Webber in the starting lineup.
Los Angeles’ Kobe Bryant had 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting and eight turnovers, one short of his career high.
Detroit’s Rasheed Wallace scored 18 and grabbed 10 rebounds and Richard Hamilton had 16 points and seven assists. Webber had his third double-double since signing with the Pistons three weeks ago, and scored at least 12 points for the fifth straight game.
Ronny Turiaf (Gonzaga) scored 13, Lamar Odom had 12 points, Smush Parker scored 11 and rookie Jordan Farmar added 10 for the Lakers, who fell to 3-3 on their eight-game road trip.
Hornets 109, Bucks 101 (2OT): At Oklahoma City, Desmond Mason scored 24 points and David West shrugged off a bruised hand to add 21 points and a career-high 19 rebounds as New Orleans beat Milwaukee in double overtime.
Kings 86, Bulls 77: At Sacramento, Calif., Kevin Martin scored 29 points, Mike Bibby had 21 and the Kings defeated Chicago for their fourth straight victory.
3-point contestants picked
Gilbert Arenas will get another shot at Dirk Nowitzki in the 3-point contest.
The NBA announced the entire six-player field, though Arenas had already leaked the news that he would participate in the All-Star Saturday event last week on his nba.com blog.
Nowitzki won the event last year in Houston, beating Arenas 18-16 in the final.
Jason Terry, Nowitzki’s Dallas teammate, also is back after failing to advance to the final round last year. Rounding out the field are Miami’s Jason Kapono, who leads the NBA in 3-point shooting at 55.9 percent; Mike Miller of the Memphis Grizzlies; and Damon Jones of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Around the NBA
Forward David West left New Orleans’ game against Milwaukee after bruising his right hand. … Allen Iverson‘s swollen right ankle doesn’t have any structural damage, but he still stayed home while Denver left for a two-game trip to the Midwest. … Steve Nash might sit out today’s game against Atlanta because of a sore right shoulder, although he and Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni believe the injury poses no long-term problems. … Dallas reserve center DJ Mbenga will miss the rest of the season with a torn knee ligament.