1-30 Washington 104 Detroit 99

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Washington 104 Detroit 99

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and the Detroit Pistons set a team record by making 27 consecutive free throws in a 113-89 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night.

Chauncey Billups added 18 points, including 12 on perfect shooting from the free throw line, and Chris Webber had 17 as the Pistons won for the fifth time in seven games and snapped the Nets' two-game winning streak. Jason Maxiell had 16 and Antonio McDyess had eight points and 12 rebounds.

Free Press

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WASHINGTON -- On this date, with three months left in the season, the best team in the Eastern Conference is the Washington Wizards.

And not just because the standings say so.

They are playing with so much confidence, so much flair, and the Pistons right now don't seem capable of stringing together two solid halves of basketball.

The Wizards hit the Pistons with a 30-point first quarter Tuesday, shot 58.7 percent for the first half and built a 19-point lead before the Pistons rose to the challenge. By then it was too late. The Wizards beat the Pistons for the second time in five days, 104-99.

Detroit News

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The Washington Wizards maintained a tenuous hold on first place in the Eastern Conference with a 104-99 win over the second-place Detroit Pistons at Verizon Center last night.

Whether the Wizards remain at the top may be determined by their ability to play without forward Antawn Jamison, who went down six minutes into the game with a sprained left knee after falling awkwardly while attempting a layup on a fast break.

Post

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 26 -- In the midst of the best season of his career, Caron Butler was having a rough night against a major rival on national television. Butler's normally reliable midrange jump shot was off and he saw several drives conclude not with two points but with a frustrating roll off the rim.

Still, the man whom Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan calls "tough juice" was there when his team needed it most. Butler's four free throws and crucial defensive rebound in the final 15 seconds made the difference in Washington's 99-96 win over the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday night.

Post

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (AP) -- Even a knee injury to Antawn Jamison couldn't mask the significance of a victory over the Detroit Pistons, a Washington Wizards win so big that even coach Eddie Jordan threw trash-talking caution to the wind - at least for a second.

"That team is a very good team. Are we done with them?'' Jordan asked.

Yes, coach, the Wizards and Pistons won't meet again in the regular season.

"So,'' Jordan said, "we kicked their butts.''

NBA