Bank shot lifts Pistons over Suns

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan – Josh Smith made a driving, left-handed bank shot with 1.2 seconds left to give the Detroit Pistons a 110-108 win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, while the Houston Rockets came back to down Washington.

Smith was involved in a few big plays in the final half-minute – both good and bad. His 3-pointer as the shot clock expired put Detroit ahead 108-105 with 26.8 seconds left. Then he fouled Gerald Green while the Phoenix guard was shooting a 3-pointer. Green made all three free throws to tie it with 4.3 seconds remaining.

Smith took the ensuing inbounds pass near the top of the key, drove to the right and then switched hands, making a tough shot while being tightly defended by Channing Frye.

Green’s shot at the buzzer from in front of the Detroit bench missed badly.Smith finished with 25 points, and Brandon Jennings had eight points, 18 assists – an NBA high this season – and eight rebounds for Detroit. Greg Monroe added 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Houston built a 25-point lead, lost all of it, then rallied from five down late in the fourth quarter to defeat the Washington Capitals, 114107, in a game twice delayed by leaks in the roof.

Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 13 rebounds to help the Trail Blazers hand the Boston Celtics their eighth straight loss, 112-104. At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 40 points as the Mavericks recovered from a cold start to beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 110-97.

The Knicks downed the Philadelphia 76ers, 102-92, after Amare Stoudemire scored 21 points and Carmelo Anthony added 18 to lead New York, while DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and Patrick Patterson had 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors beat the Nets, 96-80, to end Brooklyn’s five-game winning streak.

In other games, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Charlotte Bobcats, 103-97, the Oklahoma City Thunder downed the Milwaukee Bucks, 101-85, and the Denver Nuggets were 120-94 winners over the Orlando Magic.