Chauncey Billups scores 27 points as Detriots tops Boston.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) – Chauncey Billups scored 27 points and Richard Hamilton added 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to their third straight win, 96-88 over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

Billups scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers, and finished as one of five Pistons in double figures. Tayshaun Prince scored 14, while Ben Wallace had 13 rebounds.

Paul Pierce paced Boston with 20 points and 10 assists, while Vin Baker added 20 points.

Detroit got back into the game with a seven-point run early in the third, capped by Prince’s 3-pointer.

Raef LaFrentz slowed the rally by scoring the next four points, but the Pistons responded with a 13-2 run that included nine points from Billups and Hamilton.

That put Detroit ahead 69-64, and the Pistons still led 73-70 at the end of the quarter.

Four straight Pistons turnovers allowed Boston to take a 76-73 lead, but Detroit came back again. This time, Billups hit a pair of 3-pointers as part of a 10-2 run that made it 83-78 with 7:11 left. Boston’s final attempt at a rally was thwarted by 3-pointers from Prince and Billups that made it 96-88 in the final minute. Boston led 54-45 at halftime behind 12 points each from Baker and Pierce. The Celtics shot 57.5 percent and outrebounded Detroit 21-16.

Notes: Wednesday marked the 15th anniversary of Detroit’s first game at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons defeated Charlotte 94-85 behind 18 points from Adrian Dantley and went on to win the NBA title. … Detroit’s Zeljko Rebraca (flu) and Boston’s Eric Williams (ankle) did not suit up. … Detroit missed nine of 23 free throws in the first half. … Pierce and Wallace got technicals in the fourth quarter.

AP-ES-11-05-03 2209EST