Pistons Outlast Bobcats In Overtime 103-100

Chauncey Billups scored a game high 27 points, and Richard Hamilton added 26 more, as the Detroit Pistons outlasted a very scrappy Charlotte Bobcats team beating them in overtime 103-100 Saturday night. The win was the second straight for Detroit, but it would have been their third loss in four games if not for the late game contributions by Hamilton who came up huge in the overtime period.

The Bobcats have played at a different level this past week, defeating New Jersey and Boston in back to back games earlier this week, and taking Cleveland to double overtime before losing Friday night 113-106. They seem to like to get themselves in a hole and then extricate themselves from it.The fact that Charlotte was able to take Detroit to overtime, without either of their starting guards Raymond Felton who was out with a sprained right ankle, and Jeff McInnis was out with a bruised right quadriceps, is down right scary! Charlotte had Jason Richardson running the point, who is not known for his ball distribution. He was in this game, as he had 8 assists. Watch out NBA East fans the Bobcats are growing up, and growing up fast!

As usual the Bobcats fell behind early as Detroit grabbed a 31-18 lead at the end of the first quarter, however Charlotte got back into the contest in the second quarter, down by only 4 points in the half 51-47. The two teams played to a draw in the third as Detroit led 75-71, but Charlotte outscored Detroit in the fourth quarter 20-16 to send the game to an extra period tied at 91-91. Hamilton came up big down the stretch hitting the basket that made it 101-100 Detroit. Controversy ensued in the next play as Emeka Okafor was called for offensive interference on a basket that would have put Charlotte back on top but the bucket was not allowed. Hamilton then hit 2 at the line to ice the game.

Billups shot 10-17 from the floor, 3-5 from outside the arc, and 4-4 at the line for his 27 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block. Hamilton along with his 26 points, had 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, Tayshaun Prince scored 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal. Rasheed Wallace scored 10 points, 6 boards, 4 steals, 2 blocks, 2 assists.

Gerald Wallace for the second night in a row led the Charlotte attack scoring 26 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks. Richardson scored 20 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, Okafor recorded a double-double 19 points, a game high 15 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block. Nazr Mohammed also registered a double-double 19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal, Matt Carroll scored 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. Detroit with the win improves to 28-9, Charlotte is 13-23.