AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Richard Hamilton scored 21 points and the Detroit Pistons held Cleveland to a six-point third quarter and almost held LeBron James scoreless in the second half in an 81-69 win Thursday night.

It looked like it might not be James’ night when he shot two airballs on a single possession in the first quarter. He finished with 11 points on 4-of-21 shooting, eight rebounds and seven assists.

After making a fadeaway jumper over Ben Wallace at the end of the first half, James didn’t score again until there was 2:12 left in the game. James scored a career-high 43 points the last time he faced the Pistons, a 92-76 win on Nov. 28 in Cleveland.

Chauncey Billups scored 16, Rasheed Wallace had 13 and Ben Wallace added 10 points and 15 rebounds for the Pistons.

Cleveland’s Drew Gooden scored 18 points, Jeff McInnis had 14 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 12 after an eight-point first quarter.

The Central Division-leading Cavaliers are 9-1 at home, but just 5-8 on the road.

The Pistons erased a 10-point halftime deficit during the third quarter, with Lindsey Hunter’s two free throws with 4:09 left giving them the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game.

Detroit outscored the Cavaliers 21-6 in the third to take a five-point lead and it led by double digits for much of the final quarter.

As usual, the Pistons dug a hole early, but for the second straight game, they came back for a win.

They started the second quarter with a deficit – 23-19 – for the 16th time in 22 games and were behind 41-31 at halftime.

Cleveland point guard Eric Snow was sent to the locker room after getting in an argument on the bench with Cavaliers coach Paul Silas in the second quarter.

Snow returned to the bench after halftime, but seldom-used backup Dajuan Wagner played in his place.

Silas was upset with Snow because the Cavaliers turned the ball over on an eight-second violation.

“Nobody was open,” Snow shouted back at Silas.

Silas then took Snow out of the game and after a heated conversation, he gestured to Snow to get off the bench.

Notes: Detroit reserve Antonio McDyess scored 10 points. … The Cavaliers suspended forward Ira Newble last season for one game because of a profanity-laced argument with Silas. … James leads all Eastern Conference guards in All-Star votes and was named the East’s player of the month for November..

Bulls 85, Bucks 77

CHICAGO – Kirk Hinrich scored nine of his 28 points in a 15-0 run, and the Chicago Bulls beat the slump-ridden Milwaukee Bucks 85-77 Thursday night to win consecutively for the first time this season.

Eddy Curry added 18 points for the Bulls, who won for the fourth time in six games.

Michael Redd had 22 points for Milwaukee, which lost its third straight game and 13th of 16 overall. The Bucks are 1-9 on the road.

Redd hit a jumper to put the Bucks ahead 63-61 with 10:08 left, but the Bulls responded with the decisive run. Hinrich hit a jumper to tie the score at 63 and Curry had a dunk over Zaza Pachulia, giving Chicago a 73-63 lead with 6:40 left.

Hinrich hit a 3 the next time down. The Bucks didn’t get their next basket until Joe Smith scored with 5:02 remaining.

Tyson Chandler tied a career high with seven blocked shots to go with 6 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago, 6-6 since starting the season 0-9.

Desmond Mason added 15 points for Milwaukee, and Smith had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Notes: Before the game, the Bucks placed guard Erick Strickland on the injured list with a torn knee cartilage. He will miss at least two weeks. Strickland has appeared in 16 games for the Bucks and is averaging 4.3 points, two rebounds and 2.2 assists. … Bucks guard Maurice Williams had a bruised lower back, but stayed in the game.

… The Bulls had not won back-to-back games since March 31 and April 2 last season. … Milwaukee has lost 30 of its last 36 games at the United Center.