AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Detroit held Philadelphia scoreless for the final two minutes of an 85-69 win Sunday, extending the league record for holding opponents under 70 points to five straight games.
Lindsey Hunter's steal on Philadelphia's last possession ensured the 76ers would not reach 70.
The 76ers were without Allen Iverson, who said he was ready to play but changed his mind after coach Chris Ford told him he'd come off the bench.
"I'm a starter. I've been a starter here for eight years. I'm not a sixth man," Iverson said after the game. "I'm a starter. I know in this league ... if someone comes back from an injury, if he's a starter he starts."
Iverson has been hampered by a swollen right knee, which caused him to miss three straight games before Sunday. The league's second-leading scorer participated in the pregame shootaround but was on the bench in street clothes at tip-off.
Ford and Iverson have had a rocky relationship since the coach replaced the fired Randy Ayers on Feb. 9.
"I didn't know he was going to attempt to play until how much time was left on the (pregame) clock? Not much," Ford said.
The Pistons are the first team since the shot clock was implemented in 1954-55 to have a streak of more than two games holding an opponent under 70.
"If it's in the fourth quarter and we're in range of keeping a team under 70, then we are going to shoot for that," said Chauncey Billups, who had 13 points and nine assists. "We take a lot of pride in knowing that (the streak) hasn't been done before."
BLAZERS 92, WOLVES 83: Zach Randolph said he doesn't need anything or anybody to motivate him.
But that was exactly what Sam Cassell did when he guaranteed a Minnesota victory. Randolph had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Derek Anderson scored 21 to lead visiting Portland.
In a story in Sunday's Minneapolis Star-Tribune that was posted in Portland's locker room before the game, Cassell was quoted as saying, "We're going to win this Sunday, you can print that."
Afterward Randolph, still bouncing with energy, pointed to the spot on the wall where the article was and yelled, "Nothing's guaranteed in this league."
KINGS 101, SPURS 87: Mike Bibby scored 20 of his 24 in the second half, and Brad Miller added 19 points and 13 rebounds as Sacramento avenged three consecutive home losses to the defending champions, who played without injured MVP Tim Duncan. Sacramento pulled away with a 23-7 run early in the fourth quarter. Duncan sat out for the eighth time in nine games to rest his injured knee.
RAPTORS 101, HAWKS 84: Jalen Rose returned from a hand injury two weeks earlier than expected and, wearing a protective wrap, scored 23 and shot 7-for-8 in the fourth quarter for host Toronto. Rose played his first game in more than a month.
CAVALIERS 107, PACERS 104: LeBron James scored 26 and forced Ron Artest to take a tough 3-pointer at the buzzer, leading host Cleveland to its sixth straight win. Zydrunas Ilgauskas made two free throws with 36 seconds left and then forced a turnover for the Cavs, who are 10-3 since the All-Star break.
KNICKS 103, BUCKS 100: Tim Thomas didn't let boos or a terrible first half bother him. Thomas scored 20 against his former team, all but two in the second half, and Stephon Marbury had 21 points and 16 assists as visiting New York rallied. After Thomas tied it at 93 on a lob from Kurt Thomas, Marbury's 3-pointer with 2:01 left gave the Knicks their first lead and started a 9-0 run.
HEAT 104, NETS 95: Lamar Odom's three field goals all came in the final five minutes to help host Miami, which ended New Jersey's 15-game winning streak against Eastern Conference teams. Miami won for the fifth time in six games and remained tied with New York for seventh in the East.
Also, Heat guard Bimbo Coles went on the injured list with a lower back strain and center Wang Zhi-Zhi was activated.
NUGGETS 102, JAZZ 75: Andre Miller scored 24 and went 11-of-12 from the free-throw line and Carmelo Anthony scored 23 to lead host Denver. The Nuggets hung on to eighth place and lead the Jazz by 11/2 games for the final playoff spot in the West. Utah could have taken over eighth with a win but never threatened after scoring only 33 in the first half and trailing by 14 at halftime. Carlos Arroyo led Utah with 13 points. Gordan Giricek added 11 and Maurice Williams 10 for the Jazz.
MAVERICKS 101, CLIPPERS 88: Dirk Nowitzki had 34 points and 15 rebounds for visiting Dallas. Quentin Richardson scored 32 for Los Angeles.
