Spurs overhaul Pistons, break slump on the road

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan – San Antonio ended a three-game road losing streak by beating Detroit, 83-79, boosting the Spurs’ lead in the Southwest Division of the NBA to 3-1/2 games Thursday.

Tim Duncan had 18 points and 18 rebounds and Tony Parker added 19 points and 11 assists for San Antonio.

Detroit’s Allen Iverson led all scorers with 31 points.

San Antonio led, 64-58, going into the fourth, but the Pistons fought back to within, 78-77, with three minutes to play. Two stops gave the Pistons a pair of chances to take the lead, and Iverson took advantage of the second with a layup with 1:21 to go.

Rasheed Wallace fouled Parker, who gave San Antonio a 80-79 lead from the line, and Iverson missed at the other end.

Wallace grabbed a rebound with 28 seconds left and had a chance to put Detroit back in front, but missed a fadeaway. Bruce Bowen was fouled before he could call timeout.

Despite coming into the game shooting 47 percent from the line, Bowen hit both shots to make it 82-79 with 9.7 seconds left.

Iverson missed a tying three-pointer and Duncan clinched the game from the free-throw line.

In Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat a rusty-looking Boston Celtics, 90-85.

The Celtics were playing for the first time in a week and lost All-Star forward Kevin Garnett late in the second quarter with a strained right knee.

Deron Williams had 18 points and 10 assists to spark the Jazz, which outscored Boston 30-19 in the fourth quarter, closing the game on an 8-2 run.

Mehmet Okur led Utah with 19 points and reserve Matt Harpring had eight points and a clutch rebound as the Jazz pulled away in the final minute.

Paul Pierce’s 20 points led the Celtics, who missed a chance to overtake Cleveland for the Eastern Conference’s best percentage record. (AP)