Billups hooks up with KG

It seems like it is the norm for a player to feel that he must excel against his old team the first time the two meet, to show what the other team is missing. But after playing for six different teams in his six years in the NBA you can rule Pistons guard Chauncey Billups out of his group.

Billups resurected his struggling career in two seasons with Minnesota after bouncing around the NBA in his first four. Averaging 10.9 points per contest during his tenture, Billups exploded in the playoffs last year by averaging 22 points.

Due to luxury tax constraints Minnesota could not offer him a contract this season and Billups made the move to the motor city, but still his strong friendship with Wolves superstar Kevin Garnett continues to grow.

The two spent much of the day together on Saturday, having lunch and hanging out before the game. "We had fun, we did our (trash) talking to each other during the day," Billups said. "We definitely took what happened out on the court seriously."

"I left there on good terms," said Billups on the Timberwolves. "It's not like I feel like I have to go out there and hang 45 points on them just to show them, you know? It's not a situation like that."

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Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Magic get calls, hold off Pistons

Chris McCosky of the detroit News reports that the Pistons knew Tracy McGrady would give them a battle, but they didn’t expect the officials to do so also. Detroit lost to Orlando 104-99 behind 46 points by McGrady and a 28-9 disadvantage at the free throw line.

McGrady had missed 3 of the last 4 games because of a sore lower back but was able to hit 14-26 shots from the field and score 18 points from the line.

"He has a tremendous game and I don't want to take anything away from him," said Cliff Robinson, one of four defenders the Pistons tried on McGrady. "We gave ourselves an opportunity to win the game, but do we feel as though we got a fair whistle? No, we don't. At the same time, the whistles are going to be inconsistent at times and you have to fight through that."

The Pistons fought through a 17-point deficit in the third quarter and were able to get to within two points on a few occasions but were unable to overcome the disparity at the line and a game-saving circus shot off the glass by Orlando guard Darrell Armstrong as the shot clock expired.

"I don't want to comment on the discrepancy of fouls," said Coach Rick Carlisle, whose team has lost two straight. "But there were a couple of times down the stretch where we deserved to get a call and we didn't, but that's the way it goes."

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Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic

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Hawks Survive Against Pistons

Some nights you win going away, others you’re never in the game, and some are closer than they should be.

Saturday afternoon, against the visiting Pistons, the Hawks played a different kind of game…survival.

Jason Walker brings the recap, along with notes and quotes from Saturday's game.

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Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons

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