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Billups, Pistons stifle Bucks

Oct 9, 2008 - 2:09 AM AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- Arron Afflalo scored 15 points and Chauncey Billups added 12 as the Detroit Pistons used a strong defensive effort to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, 85-71, on Wednesday.

Olympic gold medalist Tayshaun Prince scored 11 points for Detroit, which had 10 blocks and forced Milwaukee to shoot 38 percent (27-of-71) from the field.

Milwaukee led by five early in the third quarter, but Billups had eight points and two of his five assists during a 19-8 run, which gave Detroit a 60-54 lead with 2:43 left in the period.

The Pistons used a 10-3 burst to expand their advantage to 74-61 less than four minutes into the fourth, and the Bucks never got closer than seven the rest of the way. Milwaukee was held without a field goal for the final 5:25 of the contest.

Defense has been the identity in the past for the Pistons, who have reached the Eastern Conference finals in six straight seasons.

Detroit trailed, 25-12, after the opening period but allowed just 46 points the rest of the way to give first-year coach Michael Curry his first victory in front of the home crowd.

Charlie Villanueva scored 20 points and Malik Allen added 18. Prince's Olympic teammate Michael Redd netted nine in 21 minutes for Milwaukee.