Pistons Near Their First Goal

One way to look it is that Detroit is halfway to where it wants to be.

The Pistons promised to be better than a year ago, and by winning, 102-82, on Thursday night in Denver, they assured that they would be no worse.

Grant Hill had 28 points and 14 rebounds and Otis Thorpe added 22 points for Detroit, which has won 46 games.

The Pistons won their 46th game last season on the final day.

“It was big for us tonight to get to a win total we had all last year, and with 19 games left to improve on it,” Detroit Coach Doug Collins said. “We played like it meant something. We can’t crank our intensity level any higher than it was tonight.”

Golden State 101, Cleveland 95--Donyell Marshall scored 30 points and Mark Price scored two crucial baskets in overtime to lead the Warriors to a win in San Jose.

Toronto 103, Sacramento 96--Damon Stoudamire had 16 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter for the Raptors, who won at Sacramento.

Dallas 109, Boston 107--Shawn Bradley scored a season-high 31 points and blocked a potential game-tying shot with 3.3 seconds left in a win in Dallas.

Seattle 108, Minnesota 92--Gary Payton had 29 points for the SuperSonics, who won in Minneapolis.