NBA ROUNDUP

Pistons fall in shootout to Celtics

Smith’s 28 points not enough to stop Boston

The Celtics’ Brandon Bass, left, scores on a reverse dunk in front of the Pistons’ Josh Smith during the first quarter on Sunday.

BOSTON — Rajon Rondo had 11 points and a season-high 18 assists, Jeff Green scored 27 points and the Boston Celtics had their second-highest scoring output of the season in a 118-111 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

Kris Humphries added a season-high 20 points, including two free throws with 25 seconds left to help Boston seal the win after the Pistons closed to 113-109. Humphries also led Boston with 11 rebounds.

Jerryd Bayless scored 15 points, Kelly Olynyk added 18, and Jared Sullinger 14 for the Celtics.

Josh Smith had 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons and was one of three Detroit players with double-doubles. Andre Drummond had 18 points and 22 rebounds, and Greg Monroe finished with 22 points and 14 boards. Will Bynum added 18 points off the bench for the Pistons.

Detroit controlled the game inside with 54 rebounds to Boston's 39 and outscored the Celtics 64-44 in the paint, but couldn't overcome 16 turnovers and Boston's outside shooting.

The Celtics shot 15 for 22 in the third quarter, including eight 3-pointers, in their highest scoring game since beating Orlando 120-105 on Nov. 11.

Boston also had a season-high 38 assists and beat the Pistons for the first time in three meetings this season.

Detroit had rallied from 21-points down to win in Boston on Dec. 18, but the Celtics were able to hold off the Pistons each time they rallied down the stretch this time.

After going 2 for 14 from 3-point range in the first half, the Celtics made five from beyond-the-arc in the first six minutes of the third quarter.

Smith pulled Detroit to 69-63 on a 3-pointer with 7:27 left in the period, the Green made back-to-back 3s followed by another from Bayless to stretch Boston's lead to 78-63.

The Celtics finished the period with eight 3s and led 95-84 entering the fourth.

Monroe's three-point play with 9:28 remaining cut Boston's lead to 97-89, then Bynum pulled up for a jumper on a fast break to get the Pistons within six.

Detroit stayed within reach and pulled to 113-109 on two free throws by Bynum, but the Pistons had to foul and Humphries sealed it by making two from the line.

The Celtics shot 50 percent in the second quarter and led by 13, but Detroit closed the half on a 9-2 run to pull within 57-49 at the break.

PELICANS 111, NUGGETS 107

NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis tied his career high with 32 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked six shots, and New Orleans cans erased a 16-point deficit to capture its third straight victory in overtime.

Tyreke Evans had 20 points and Anthony Morrow added 14, including a 15-foot pullup in the lane that tied the game at 94 with one second left in regulation.

Davis' free throws gave New Orleans the lead for good at 106-104, and his block of Ty Lawson's driving layup prevented Denver from tying it with 1:14 left in overtime.

Davis became the first player in franchise history — going back to the club's founding as the Charlotte Hornets in 1988 — to have as many points, rebounds, and blocks in one game.

Kenneth Faried had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Denver.

NETS 104, KINGS 89

NEW YORK — Marcus Thornton scored 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter against his old team and Joe Johnson added 18 points, helping Brooklyn overcome an injury to Paul Pierce.

Alan Anderson had 11 points and Shaun Livingston and Deron Williams each scored 10 points as the Nets won for the fifth time in six games.

DeMarcus Cousins had 20 points and 28 rebounds to lead the Kings, and Rudy Gay added 20 points.

Brooklyn led by 16 points in the first half after losing Pierce to a right shoulder injury in the early minutes of the first quarter.

Sacramento trailed 49-40 at halftime and then opened the third quarter with a 17-8 run to tie the score at 57-all with 7:38 left in the period.

However, Brooklyn outscored Sacramento 47-32 the rest of the way.

BULLS 95, HEAT 88

CHICAGO — Joakim Noah had 20 points and 12 rebounds, D.J. Augustin scored 22 and Chicago beat Miami in overtime after Jimmy Butler stripped the ball from LeBron James at the end of regulation.

Dwyane Wade scored 25 for Miami, but with James struggling again, the Heat dropped their third straight to match their longest losing streak of the season.

James scored 17 points on 8-of-23 shooting and couldn't come through after Miami blew a 12-point lead down the stretch. With a chance to win it at the end of regulation, he was stopped by Butler on a layup attempt.

In overtime, it was all Bulls. Chicago outscored Miami 9-2, starting with Augustin's 3 just under a minute in.

Noah also had seven assists and five blocks with his dad — tennis great Yannick Noah — looking on. Butler added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

LAKERS 114, THUNDER 110

LOS ANGELES — Jodie Meeks scored 24 of his career-high 42 points in the second half, helping the Lakers overcome a triple-double by Thunder star Kevin Durant.

Pau Gasol added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the injury-ravaged Lakers, who had lost 29 of their previous 37 games. Meeks was 11 of 18 from the field and 14 for 14 at the line while becoming the third player to reach the 30-point mark this season for Los Angeles.

Durant had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists for his third triple-double this season. Serge Ibaka had 21 points and 15 boards for Oklahoma City.

The Lakers trailed the Thunder by as many as 18 in the second quarter before taking their first lead on a pair of free throws by Meeks that made it 71-70 with 4:35 left in the third.