By The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Richard Hamilton scored 23 points to help the Detroit Pistons hold off the Charlotte Bobcats 108-103 on Saturday night.

Detroit trailed for much of the game before taking the lead late in the third quarter. The Pistons went up by as many as 10 points midway through the fourth, but couldn’t put the Bobcats away.

Charlotte used an 8-2 run to cut its deficit to 102-98 – getting two pretty dunks from Gerald Wallace in the spurt – but both teams went cold shortly after. Chauncey Billups hit a 3 with 3:43 to play to make it 105-98, and Bernard Robinson scored on a running layup right after for the Bobcats.

Then neither team could find the basket. Ben Wallace missed four consecutive free throws for Detroit, then Billups missed a 3 and Rasheed Wallace was off on an 18-footer as the Pistons went over three minutes without a point.

Heat 85, Bulls 84

CHICAGO – Dwyane Wade scored 13 of his 15 points on free throws and Antoine Walker added 13 points off the bench Saturday to lead the Miami Heat to a 85-84 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Wade who shot 59 percent in his last five games and averaged 34.4 points, shot 1-for-8 from the field and had 10 turnovers, but was 13-for-13 from the free throw line.

Wade and Shaquille O’Neal had to battle through foul problems the entire game.

O’Neal finished with 13 points and five rebounds and Jason Williams added 12 points for Miami.

Nuggets 109, Hornets 94

NEW ORLEANS – Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and reserve Greg Buckner capped a 19-point performance with a pair of key 3-pointers to help the Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Hornets 109-94 on Saturday night.

Just as they’ve returned to New Orleans, playing before enthusiastic sellout crowds, the Hornets have ceased to look like a playoff team.

The Hornets have lost a season-high eight straight games.

David West had 24 points and eight rebounds for New Orleans but got little help until it was too late.

Spurs 92, Rockets 77

HOUSTON – Tony Parker scored 23 points and Tim Duncan added 14 to help the San Antonio Spurs keep pace with Dallas for the best record in the West with a 92-77 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. The Spurs recovered from a sluggish start to match the Mavs’ 52-14 record atop the Western Conference. Dallas plays at New Jersey on Sunday.

Bucks 97, Blazers 93

MILWAUKEE – Michael Redd scored 27 of his 33 points in the first half to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 97-93 on Saturday night.

The victory was Milwaukee’s third straight at home, marking the Bucks (33-33) first three-game winning streak at the Bradley Center since Feb. 8-14.

Redd was 12-for-21 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. Charlie Bell added 14 points for the Bucks.

Darius Miles scored 26 points and Sebastian Telfair had 21 for the Trail Blazers.