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Nets Beat the Best... Again

The Nets got their most impressive win of the season Sunday night, beating the Pistons in Detroit thanks to a stifling defense and just enough offense to get by. Detroit was 30-2 at home coming into the game and had won 16 straight at the Palace, but they fell behind early, scoring a season-low 10 points in the first quarter and trailing by as many as 15 points early in the second. Their bench brought them back however, and the game was tight until midway through the fourth when the Nets built an nine-point lead with 4:28 to go. Detroit then went on a 7-0 run to make it a two-point game. The Nets couldn't buy a basket down the stretch, but they didn't have to. Chauncey Billups missed a jumper to tie the game with five seconds to go and after Vince Carter hit one of two from the line, the Nets did not give the Pistons a chance to tie it, fouling Billups immediately on the next possession and then stealing an inbounds pass with 2.4 on the clock. Detroit shot just 34.1% (the Nets weren't much better at 37.3%) from the field, with Billups and Rasheed Wallace combining to shoot just 3-20. Vince Carter led the Nets with 22 points, Nenad Krstic added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Jason Kidd grabbed a season-high 14 boards. The Nets have now won eight straight games, are 12 games over .500 for the first time this season and have won the season series over the Pistons.