NBA: Detroit 105, New Orleans 84

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 16 (UPI) -- Jarvis Hayes scored a season-high 29 points Sunday, jump-starting the Detroit Pistons' easy 105-84 win over the New Orleans Hornets.

He sank seven of eight three-point attempts in his best game since joining the Pistons as a free agent last off-season. He played his first four NBA seasons in Washington.

Detroit trailed 24-21 after the first quarter but a 34-18 second led to a 55-44 lead at halftime and it was 77-66 going into the fourth.

Chauncey Billups added 17 points and five assists. Tayshaun Prince scored 13 points with four assists, while Rasheed Wallace added 10 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Pistons, who won seven of their last eight games against the Hornets.

Peja Stojakovic led New Orleans with 21 points and nine rebounds.

Melvin Ely had 15 points and five rebounds, and Chris Paul had 14 points and 14 assists for the Hornets, who had won two in a row.