Jerry Stackhouse scored 31 points and hit a key 3-pointer with 15 seconds left as the Pistons emerged from a tight fourth quarter with their third win in four games and fourth straight at Charlotte Coliseum.
Detroit held a pair of seven-point leads early in the final period, but the game boiled down to the final 1:19 after Charlotte's Baron Davis came off a high screen and drilled a 3-pointer that tied it at 103-103.
 Jerry Stackhouse drives to the hoop against the Hornets. Joe Murphy NBAE/Getty Images |
"Ben Wallace had a great game," Pistons coach Rick Carlisle said. "He made two huge free throws in the final few moments. Wallace definitely earned the game ball tonight."
Wallace finished with eight points and 13 rebounds.
"We got some good looks and stepped up and made the shots," he said. "Tonight, we were just able to knock them down. We've been letting up in some of the previous games we've lost. We wanted to stay in the attack mode in the fourth quarter."
Charlotte had two chances to tie on the ensuing possession, but Wallace blocked a layup attempt by Davis with 53 seconds left. Moments later, off an in-bounds pass, David Wesley misfired on a 17-footer from the right corner.
After two free throws by Stackhouse, Elden Campbell went 2-of-2 from the line, pulling the Hornets within 107-105. But Stackhouse put away the game with a fallaway 3-pointer from the right wing.
"Stackhouse hit an enormous shot to win the game," Carlisle said.
Chucky Atkins had 24 points and nine assists and Corliss Williamson came off the bench to contribute 19 points in 22 minutes for the Pistons.
The Hornets were led by Davis, who scored 23 points and dished out 14 assists, but at times struggled from the field, shooting 9-of-23. As a team, Charlotte finished at 44 percent (40-of-90).
"We played them right down to the wire. I am proud of the effort by our guys," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said. "We came back strong in the last quarter and had a chance to win. That's all I can ask."
Detroit shot 55 percent (39-of-71), including 9-of-17 from 3-point range.
"It was a great win for us," said Stackhouse. "The play of the game was no doubt when Ben stepped up and hit both free thhrows. Fortunately I got some space and was able to raise up and knock a big one down."
The Pistons held an 81-74 lead entering the fourth and were still holding the seven-point advantage at 85-78 following a basket by Williamson with just under 11 minutes remaining before the Hornets began to fight back.
A basket by Matt Bullard and Bryce Drew's 3-pointer cut the deficit to two. After a layup by Williamson, Davis drilled a 3-pointer that made it a one-point contest with nine minutes left.
"The only way we can win is if we play with maximum energy and intensity," Davis said. "There's little things we have to clean up and get better at."
The Pistons played without guard Dana Barros, who did not dress because of a pulled left hamstring.