NEW YORK, 24 January 2005 — Kirk Hinrich scored 24 points and added nine assists as the Chicago Bulls continued their improved play with a 100-89 win over the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills on Saturday.
The Bulls had not won at the Palace of Aubrun Hills in three years until this season, but Chicago has beaten the defending NBA champions twice in less than a month on the Pistons home court.
Eddy Curry added 15 points for the Bulls before fouling out, as Chicago moved to the .500 mark (19-19) for the first time this season. Antonio Davis added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls.
Chicago started the season 0-9, but have now won 17 of their last 23 games and nine of the past 10 to move into contention for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The Pistons (23-17) continued their inconsistent play, dropping their third straight game despite a 32-point performance from Richard Hamilton.
Detroit led 47-44 at the half, but the Bulls looked stronger after the break and took control of the game late in the fourth quarter.
Rasheed Wallace added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Pistons, while Ben Wallace hauled in 13 rebounds.
In other games, LeBron James had his second triple-double in three games as the Cleveland Cavaliers stopped the Golden State Warriors 105-87 in Oakland.
James had 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists just three nights after becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.
Eric Snow added 16 points and 12 assists for Cleveland.
James Richardson scored 22 points for the Warriors, losers of 11 of their last 12.
In Atlanta, Antoine Walker scored 29 points against his former team as the Hawks overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics 100-96.
Al Harrington hit six free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win for the Hawks and had 21 points. Rookie Josh Childress added a career-high 19 points for Atlanta.
Rookie Tony Allen had a career-high 20 points for the Celtics, who have lost nine straight games on the road.
Boston scored the first 14 points of the second half to take a 64-47 lead, but they blew that in the fourth quarter.
In Orlando, Hedo Turkoglu had 22 points to lead six Orlando players in double figures as the Magic beat the Philadelphia 76ers 115-111.
Dwight Howard added 21 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, while Pat Garrity added 18 points.
Allen Iverson led the 76ers with 38 points and 10 assists, but had nine turnovers. Samuel Dalembert had 24 points and 16 rebounds for the Sixers.
In New Orleans, Dan Dickau hit a three-pointer with two seconds remaining to lead the Hornets to an 88-85 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Dickau had 27 points and eight rebounds to lead New Orleans, while Lee Nailon added 22 points.
Elton Brand had 28 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Clippers.
In Indianapolis, Antawn Jamison hit the winning basket at the buzzer, leading the Washington Wizards past the Indiana Pacers 95-93.
Jamison had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Wizards, while Gilbert Arenas scored a team-high 33 points for the winners.
Jermaine O’Neal led Indiana with 38 points.
In Salt Lake City, Pau Gasol scored 23 points as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Utah Jazz 110-94.
Shane Battier added 16 points for the Grizzlies, while Brian Cardinal scored 14 as the Grizzlies snapped a five-game losing streak in Utah.
Mehmet Okur scored 22 points to lead Utah.
In Portland, Kevin Garnett had 14 points and 16 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Tail Blazers 92-83.
Wally Szczerbiak added 18 points for the Timberwolves, who handed the Blazers their sixth straight loss.
Damon Stoudemire led Portland with 23 points.
