AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Chauncey Billups scored a team-high 20 points Sunday and the Detroit Pistons trounced Charlotte 104-85.
Detroit quickly turned the contest into a laugher with a 30-16 first quarter. Charlotte pulled within 56-47 at the half, but was outscored 25-20 in the third and 23-20 in the fourth -- and faced a double-digit deficit for most of the second half.
Detroit's Antonio McDyess had 19 points and nine rebounds. Richard Hamilton had 18 points, three assists and four rebounds, while Jason Maxiell added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Pistons, who had won five in a row before Friday's 98-91 loss to Chicago.
It was the first meeting between Detroit and Charlotte in the 2007-2008 season after a four-game split last season.
Charlotte was led by Jason Richardson's 15 points. Emeka Okafor had 14 points and four rebounds.
Raymond Felton had 12 points and four assists, while Walter Hermann scored 10 points for the Bobcats, who have dropped eight of their last nine contests.
