Pistons shut down Iverson

AUBURN HILLS: Chauncey Billups scored 29 points on Thursday despite playing only three minutes in the fourth quarter to lead six double-figure scorers as the Detroit Pistons beat the Philadelphia 76ers 113-85 for their sixth win in seven matches.

Allen Iverson scored just five points — snapping a 186-matches streak of scoring in double figures. It was his lowest output since scoring five points on March 2, 2000, against Washington. The Pistons held him to a career-low four points on March 23, 1998. Iverson, who went just two-for-11 before sitting out the fourth quarter, averaged 32.1 points in the previous eight matches.  Detroit (43-24) is two and a half matches ahead on New Jersey for the best record in the Eastern Conference and three and a half matches ahead of Indiana in the Central Division. Philadelphia (40-27) had won 17 of 19 since the All-Star break and are just a half-matches behind New Jersey.