NBA: Detroit 113, New York 86

NEW YORK, April 8 (UPI) -- Richard Hamilton led six Detroit players in double figures Wednesday and the Pistons neared a playoff berth by crushing New York 113-86.

The Pistons moved into a tie with Chicago for the seventh and eighth spots in the Eastern Conference. They own a three-game lead over ninth-place Charlotte with all three teams having four games left in the regular season.

Detroit scored the first 10 points of the game and was never threatened, running away to a 24-point halftime lead. The Pistons won their second in a row after a three-game skid.

Hamilton scored 22 points and Tayshaun Prince had 15. Rasheed Wallace added 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Antonio McDyess piled up 16 boards to go with his 12 points.

New York was led by Al Harrington with 26 points. The Knicks, who will miss the playoffs, have lost six of their last seven.