AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton scored 24 points each Sunday night as Detroit edged the Houston Rockets, 99-97.
Billups added nine assists and three rebounds, and Hamilton had five rebounds and four assists. Ben Wallace had 13 points and 15 rebounds; Rasheed Wallace had 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists; and Maurice Evans had 11 points and three rebounds for the Pistons (33-5), who have won seven in a row.
Tracy McGrady had 43 points, nine rebounds and five assists; Juwan Howard had 16 points and 12 rebounds; Rafer Alston had 13 points, three rebounds and four assists; and David Wesley had 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals for the Rockets (13-26), who have dropped seven of their last eight games.
The Pistons, who have the best record in the NBA, out-rebounded Houston, 41-37.
