Tayshaun Prince scored a career-high 26 points as the Detroit Pistons eased to a 94-80 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday, sending the slumping NBA leaders to their fourth successive defeat.
After getting the season off to a 31-4 start, the Suns have gone cold without Steve Nash, who sat out his second consecutive game after bruising a thigh in Friday's loss to the Indianapolis Pacers.
Without league assist leader Nash directing traffic, the NBA's highest scoring offense has sputtered and the Pistons held the Suns to a season low in their Martin Luther King Jr holiday matinee in the Motor City.
The NBA champions stamped their authority on the contest quickly, storming to a 20-7 first quarter lead and never looked back to record their six successive win.
Richard Hamilton contributed a 16 point performance to the Pistons cause while Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess each had 13.
Joe Johnson led the Suns with 17 points while Amare Stoudemire added 16.
In New York, Ben Gordon nailed a jumper with one-tenth of second to play, lifting the Bulls to a dramatic 88-86 victory over the Knicks as Chicago extended their season-high winning steak to seven games.
With the final seconds ticking off the clock, Gordon, who had 13 of his 17 points in the final quarter, charged down the lane and floated the ball over Michael Sweetney for the winning basket.
Luol Deng led the Bulls with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Eddy Curry also contributed a double-double with 14 points and 13 boards.
In Charlotte, Michael Redd continued his hot scoring pace, pouring in 27 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 99-92 win over the Bobcats, snapping a four-game losing skid.
Redd, who has averaged over 24 points a game in his last four contests, found his range when it mattered most hitting for 21 points in the second half while Desmond Mason chipped in with 16.
In Philadelphia, Allen Iverson notched 29 points and Kenny Thomas added 21 as the 76ers roared to a big lead over the last place New Orleans Hornets than held on for 95-91 win.
Leading by 25 points 82-57 in the fourth quarter, the 76ers fell asleep as the Hornets went on a 17-0 run on way to closing to within 93-91.
But the Hornets gritty comeback fell short when Kyle Korver nailed the final two points from the free throw line to clinch the Philadelphia win while New Orleans record slipped to an NBA worst 5-32.
In Los Angeles, Chris Webber had 23 points and Cuttino Mobley had 19 for his new team, including a big three-pointer and two key free throws, helping the Sacramento Kings to 98-83 decision over the Clippers.
In Atlanta, all-star guards Vince Carter and Jason Kidd both hit for 23 points as the New Jersey Nets squeezed past the Hawks 85-84, halting a four-game losing streak.
More from rediff