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Webber, Pistons continue Celtics all-time slide

Feb 7, 2007 - 5:16 AM AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- Recently acquired Chris Webber and the Detroit Pistons showed the Boston Celtics what winning basketball looks like.

Webber scored 17 points, leading six teammates in double digits as the Pistons extended the Celtics franchise record losing streak to 15 games with a 109-102 victory.

Boston, which has an NBA all-time best 16 world championships, hit a new low while suffering its 22nd loss in its last 24 games.

"Obviously this losing streak isn't fun," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

Coming into this game, it did not seem likely the Celtics would get the long-awaited victory because they had lost 11 of their last 12 to the Pistons, and were just 3-18 here since March 1995.

"We played a better team and I didn't think we played with a lot of spirit, to be honest," Rivers said. "They just picked us apart."

Webber, who signed with Detroit on January 16, connected on 8-of-12 shots and also handed out six assists for the Pistons, who led, 56-40, at halftime and coasted for most of the second half.

"We came in and did what we were supposed to do," Pistons guard Chauncey Billups said. "Their team has been struggling and we jumped on them."

Billups scored 24 points, including 3-of-4 from the arc, and Antonio McDyess added 18 points, connecting on 9-of-10 from the floor, for Detroit, which shot 58 percent (44-of-76) and has won four straight.

"I guess I was pretty much feeling it," said McDyess, who started the game 8-of-8 from the floor. "In the beginning I was getting easy shots, layups and it just kept going."

Tayshaun Prince also had 17 points and Richard Hamilton added 10 and a season-high 11 assists for the Pistons, who dished out a season high-tying 32 assists.

"It was fun you know, just going out there playing, trying to get everybody involved, everybody making plays," Hamilton said. "We're tough to beat when we play that way. It was fun for me."

"Hamilton can pass when he wants to, he just don't," McDyess added.

Ryan Gomes scored 19 points and Sebastian Telfair added 13, including nine in the final quarter, when the Celtics outscored the Pistons, 35-20, in garbage time.

"You have to give a lot of credit to their team," Gomes said. "I think Webber came in and it seems like he's been there forever already. He's a great passer and they're all unselfish on that team. I remember on one possession I think everyone touched it two times."

Gerald Green had 12 points and Al Jefferson, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak each added 10 for Boston, which has lost all three games to Detroit this season.

"The Pistons are such a great passing team that if you trap them, they hurt you with threes which they did," Rivers said.