Pistons beat Cavs 89-79 for 5th straight home win
Detroit Pistons forward Jason Maxiell (54) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jeremy Pargo (8) vie for the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Auburn Hills, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. AP/Paul Sancya
AUBURN HILLS, Michigan—The Detroit Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 89-79 for their fifth straight home win Monday thanks to 17 points from Brandon Knight and 15 points each from Kyle Singler and Tayshaun Prince.
Detroit, which has won just one of 11 games on the road, but is 5-3 at home, led 56-39 at halftime after holding the Cavaliers to 29 percent shooting.
Anderson Varejao had 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Cavs.
The Portland Trail Blazers overcame an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 118-112w in overtime.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points and 13 rebounds for Portland, while Luke Babbitt hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers.
Damian Lillard scored 24 points and Nicolas Batum added 17 points for the Blazers. Ben Gordon set a franchise record with eight 3-pointers — all after halftime — for the Bobcats.
Orlando’s Glen Davis and Arron Afflalo scored 24 points each as the Magic outlasted t5he Golden State Warriors 102-94 for their second straight victory.
Stephen Curry had 25 points and 11 assists and David Lee added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Warriors.
At New Orleans, Ryan Anderson scored 22 points and Robin Lopez added 21 as the Hornets downed the Milwaukee Bucks 102-81 for only their second win in 11 games.
Lopez shot 8 of 10 from the field and made all five free throws he attempted. He also scored 11 straight points during a pivotal 13-0 run in the third quarter that gave New Orleans the lead for good.
Corey Brewer scored 19 points and JaVale McGee had 17 points and five blocks as the Denver Nuggets withstood a late rally to beat the Toronto Raptors 113-110.
Andrea Bargnani scored 23 points for Toronto and Kyle Lowry had 24, including 12 in the fourth quarter when the Raptors cut a 17-point lead to one with 2:18 left.
Clippers power forward Blake Griffin scored 30 points and Jamal Crawford added 20 off the bench as Los Angeles edged the Utah Jazz 105-104 for their first loss at home this season.
Crawford made a pair of free throws late and ex-Clipper Randy Foye countered with a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining.
Mo Williams led the Jazz against his former team with 20 points and 12 assists.
