Stackhouse, Pistons Clinch Division Title

Jerry Stackhouse knows that his Detroit Pistons are capable of winning more than a division championship.

Monday, though, taking that first step was cause for a party.

Stackhouse had 18 points and 12 assists, one short of a career high, as the Pistons clinched their first Central Division title since the 1989-90 NBA championship team by beating the Atlanta Hawks, 105-99, Monday night at Auburn Hills, Mich.

“This is just an unbelievable feeling,” Stackhouse said. “We came from nowhere last year to win a division title. There are a lot of players who have never done that.”

Even with Stackhouse’s effort, the night belonged to Zeljko Rebraca, who had career highs with 18 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks. The Yugoslav rookie replaced injured the Ben Wallace--who leads the league in blocks and rebounds -- and helped Detroit pull within two games of New Jersey for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Wallace sat out with a sprained ankle.

“This was a great opportunity for me, and I wanted to play my best game,” he said. “I told Ben before the game that I had to do his job, and that’s what I did. Now we are the champs.”

Chucky Atkins led the Pistons with 20 points, and Cliff Robinson had 19.

“We can celebrate tonight, because this is a tremendous achievement that no one expected these guys to do,” Piston Coach Rick Carlisle said. “Tomorrow, we’ll start thinking about the Chicago game on Wednesday and about catching New Jersey. The first priority is to get Ben healthy.”

Dallas 105, Utah 96--Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley each heated up in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 points, leading the Mavericks at Salt Lake City. Despite the loss, the Jazz clinched a playoff spot when Seattle beat the Clippers.

Dallas won without leading scorer and rebounder Dirk Nowitzki, who had 10 points when he rolled his left ankle with 1:54 before halftime and limped to the dressing room. He didn’t return for the second half after straining the ankle.

San Antonio 99, Portland 87--After the Trail Blazers Portland trimmed a 29-point deficit down to six late in the fourth quarter, Tim Duncan knocked down a turnaround jumper to help the Spurs hang on at San Antonio. Duncan led the Spurs with 24 points and eight rebounds. His only basket of the fourth quarter was a 10-footer over Rasheed Wallace to put the Spurs up, 95-87, with 1:28 left.

Orlando 83, Houston 74--Tracy McGrady scored eight of his 22 points in the last 4:55 as the Magic won at Orlando, Fla. Troy Hudson scored 19 points, and his three-pointer with 1:04 remaining capped a 16-1 run that sealed the Magic’s 10th consecutive home victory. Orlando can clinch a postseason berth with a victory at New York tonight.

Chicago 105, Boston 100--Trenton Hassell banked in a three-point shot and Travis Best made two free throws, all in the final minute, to lead the Bulls at Chicago. Antoine Walker, who finished with 33 points, missed an off-balance three-point shot with three seconds left. Best made two free throws with under one second left to clinch it.

Minnesota 100, Golden State 93--Wally Szczerbiak scored 21 points and Kevin Garnett had 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Timberwolves won at Oakland. All five starters scored in double figures for the Timberwolves, who won for the sixth time in seven games.

Cleveland 111, Indiana 99--Ricky Davis scored 32 points and the Cavaliers limited Indiana to five baskets in the final 18 minutes at Indianapolis.