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Local TeamsSports ChannelsSports SurveySponsored Links | NBA Game Summary - Minnesota At DetroitPOSTED: 10:34 pm CDT April 15,
2008 Detroit, MI -- (Sports Network) - Jarvis Hayes scored 20 points off the bench to lead Detroit past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-103. The victory secured the second-best record in the NBA for the Pistons. "It feels good," Chauncey Billups said. "That's what we had in mind when we started this game - to solidify home court." Richard Hamilton added 18 points for Detroit, which has won three in a row and will close out its season on Wednesday in Cleveland. The Pistons have locked up the second-seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs. Billups ended with 17 points, while Antonio McDyess and Tayshaun Prince had 10 each. Al Jefferson tallied 30 points and nine rebounds for the T'Wolves, who saw their two-game win streak halted. Rashad McCants had 19 points and Ryan Gomes added 14 and nine boards. Randy Foye and Marko Jaric totaled 13 points apiece. A 9-1 Minnesota run made it a 99-92 game. McCants had a three during the surge and Jefferson closed it out with a dunk with 4:45 remaining in the contest. Arron Afflalo interjected with a jumper for the Pistons, but Foye responded with a layup and Jefferson added two free throws to make it 101-96 with 3:46 to play. The T'Wolves failed to close within five-points and the Pistons pulled away down the stretch. The Pistons held a 24-23 lead after the first stanza, but rolled to a 52-43 lead at the break. The teams battled back and forth for the better part of the third quarter and the Pistons took a 10-point lead, 71-61, on a Billups three-point play. The teams traded baskets and two dunks from McDyess, followed by a Prince free throw, made it 86-72 heading into the final 12 minutes of play. Already up by 12, a Hayes three-pointer made it 96-81 just past the nine- minute mark of the fourth. "Detroit gets great plays from everyone, even their bench," Jefferson said. "That's why they are one of my favorites for the playoffs. When they won it in '04, they had a good bench, and now they've got all these young guys who can play."Game Notes:Detroit is the Central Division champion and finished 34-7 at home this season..Minnesota is a brutal 7-34 as the visitor this season...The Pistons earned a series sweep over the Timberwolves for the second time in three seasons...Minnesota has lost five of its last seven at The Palace. Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.
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