AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Chris Paul had 23 points and 14 assists to help the New Orleans Hornets hand the Detroit Pistons their fifth straight loss, 91-85 on Saturday night.
David West added 20 points for the Hornets, who had six players in double figures. Richard Hamilton led the Pistons with 20 points.
Detroit, with Tayshaun Prince and Hamilton already playing at less than 100 percent, got a scare when Allen Iverson hurt his knee in the third period.
Iverson stole an inbounds pass, but landed awkwardly after his layup was blocked by Rasual Butler. Iverson was helped off the court by the Pistons’ training staff, but returned to start the fourth quarter.
Two of the league’s lowest-tempo offenses combined for a low-scoring first half, with New Orleans holding a 39-37 advantage behind eight points and seven assists from Paul.
Rasheed Wallace hit back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Pistons even midway through the third quarter, and the Pistons led by a point going into the fourth.
The Hornets, scored the first nine points of the period to take their biggest lead of the game, but Detroit came back to tie the game at 79.
With the game still tied, Iverson made a huge mental mistake when he was called for an eight-second violation even though he wasn’t being pressured by New Orleans. Paul answered with a bank-shot jumper at the shot-clock buzzer, and James Posey’s runner made it 85-81 with 90 seconds left.
Paul iced the game with a driving layup to make it 89-84 with 26 seconds to go.
Notes: Iverson got a technical foul early in the fourth that
helped New Orleans’ 9-0 run. … New Orleans reserve Morris Peterson did not play after having his college jersey retired Saturday afternoon by Michigan State. … New Orleans had lost seven of eight to the Pistons.
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