CHICAGO - Chauncey Billups scored 28, including seven in overtime and the winning basket with 8.2 seconds left, to help the Pistons clinch the Central Division with a 85-84 overtime victory over the Bulls on Monday.
The Pistons' division title gives them the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They've won seven straight and handed the Bulls' just their second loss in 14 games.
Kirk Hinrich's layup for Chicago, which played without Eddy Curry for the eighth straight game because of an irregular heartbeat, tied it at 73 with 52.6 seconds left.
Chicago scored the first eight to lead 81-73 with 2:47 left. But Pistons ended the game with a 12-3 run capped when Billups hit a jumper after using a crossover dribble to free himself from Chris Duhon.
James leads Cavs past Magic
ORLANDO - LeBron James scored 33 and Drew Gooden 27 to help the Cavaliers beat the Magic 114-106. Cleveland had lost five of seven and 14 of 15 on the road. James, playing all 48 minutes for the third time in the past six games, also had seven rebounds and six assists. In his past three games, he has averaged 36.7 points, 10 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
Down 88-76 early in the fourth, Orlando used a fullcourt press to force turnovers on four consecutive possessions and pull within two. But James made two free throws, and after a Magic turnover, Jeff McInnis made two more for a 92-86 lead with 7:07 left.
WIZARDS 119, BUCKS 112: Gilbert Arenas had a season-high 13 assists to help host Washington end a five-game losing streak. After scoring 44 with three assists in Saturday's loss to the 76ers, Arenas said "I'm not Steve Nash. I'm not going to get you 22 assists," referring to the Suns guard. Monday, Arenas took two shots early then none until the first minute of the fourth. He scored eight on 2-of-9 shooting.
MAVS 110, GRIZZLIES 89: Josh Howard scored 23 and Keith Van Horn added 14 to spoil visiting Memphis' first chance to clinch a playoff spot. The Grizzlies endured their worst loss under coach Mike Fratello and second-worst of the season.
ROCKETS 90, SONICS 78: Tracy McGrady scored 38 for visiting Houston, which prevented Seattle from clinching the Northwest. Up 59-51, McGrady scored 11 in a row, including three consecutive 3-pointers, to make it 70-59 with a minute left in the third.
NUGGETS 122, WARRIORS 106: Carmelo Anthony scored 11 of his 32 points during a key third-quarter run and Andre Miller had 16 assists, helping host Denver clinch consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in a decade.
PACERS 94, RAPTORS 90: Reggie Miller scored 19 to lead visiting Indiana and pass Jerry West for 12th all time. Miller has 25,201, nine more than West. Dale Davis gave Indiana a 91-90 lead with two free throws with 53 seconds left. After Toronto's Rafer Alston committed a turnover, James Jones made two free throws with 14.4 seconds left.BOBCATS 110, HAWKS 105 (OT): Keith Bogans scored 21 for visiting Charlotte, which ended an eight-game losing streak and kept Atlanta from its first two-game win streak of the season. Atlanta's Tyronn Lue drove past Matt Carroll for a layup with 17 seconds left to send it to overtime tied at 101. Gerald Wallace's jumper put the Bobcats up 107-103 with 47 seconds left. After Lue missed a 3-pointer, Bogans scored on a layup and Wallace stole the inbounds pass.76ERS: Guard Allen Iverson might miss tonight's game because of sprained thumbs. Iverson is still bothered by the thumb on his right hand, which forced him to sit out Saturday.SUSPENSIONS: Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse and Utah's Kirk Snyder will miss a game because of a postgame scuffle.DRAFT: Washington guard Nate Robinson said he will skip his senior season. He averaged 16.4 points and was a third-team All-American this past season.[Last modified April 12, 2005, 01:25:18]
