AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) – Jason Maxiell hit a baseline jumper with 6.8 seconds left to help the Detroit Pistons beat the Seattle SuperSonics 97-93 on Sunday night.

The second-year player, forced into the rotation with Rasheed Wallace slowed by ankle injuries, had 17 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes, all career highs.

The SuperSonics tied it at 91 on Mickael Gelabale’s layup with 59.2 seconds to play, but Richard Hamilton countered with a driving bank shot in traffic.

Tayshaun Prince fouled Rashard Lewis at the other end, and Lewis’ free throws tied it with 28.4 seconds left. Chauncey Billups then found Maxiell alone on the baseline and his awkward-looking 10-footer dropped through the net. Carlos Delfino tipped away Luke Ridnour’s pass, and Billups clinched it from the line.

Hamilton finished with 24 points and Billups had 21. Dale Davis added 13 rebounds. Lewis led the Sonics with 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Chris Wilcox added 21 points.

Detroit outrebounded the Sonics 29-14 in the first half, but led only 51-50. Lewis kept Seattle in the game with 16 points in the half on 7-of-9 shooting.

Wilcox had 10 points in the first 8 minutes of the third, helping Seattle go ahead, but the Pistons tied it on Hamilton’s four-point possession. He was fouled by Nick Collison while scoring, and added a second free throw on Collison’s technical.

Hamilton’s short jumper on the next possession put Detroit ahead 71-69, and the Pistons still had a 77-74 advantage going into the fourth.

Seattle tied it at 79, but Billups answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Pistons a six-point lead with 8:51 left.

Detroit only managed Billups’ two free throws in the next 6 minutes, but played enough defense to keep the lead. Hamilton’s short jumper made it 89-85 with 2:48 left, but Seattle kept coming.

Notes: The Pistons had 15 offensive rebounds in the first half and 14 defensive rebounds, while Seattle had 14 total. … Lewis hit his first six field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers. … Seattle rookie Andreas Glyniadakis saw limited action in his first game against Detroit, which drafted in him in the second round in 2003.

AP-ES-12-17-06 2036EST