The Philadelphia 76ers learned what Kansas and Illinois learned last year: Lindsey Hunter can shoot.
Hunter, a rookie from Jackson State, scored 23 points Sunday and played the entire game at point guard in the Detroit Pistons' 103-89 victory over the 76ers.He set the tone early with three 3-pointers in the first three minutes to put Detroit ahead 14-4.
"I was wide open," Hunter said. "I guess they thought I couldn't shoot."
They were wrong.
Hunter proved he could shoot last year when he averaged 26.7 points - fifth best in the country. He had 48 points against Kansas. He had 43 against Illinois, with 39 in the second half.
"During the exhibition season, everyone got excited about his one-on-one showmanship, but that's not what you want from a point guard," Pistons coach Don Chaney said. "Right now, he's getting everyone involved, and he has court vision, which he had been lacking."
Hunter, subbing for Isiah Thomas while the All-Star recovers from a broken hand, also had five assists and only one turnover. He was 9 of 20 from the field and 3 of 7 from 3-point range.
"They didn't tell me to expect 48 minutes, but it happened and I really didn't mind," Hunter said. "I was feeling really relaxed, and it really didn't bother me."
Bill Laimbeer led the Pistons with 25 points, 13 in the fourth quarter, while Sean Elliott added 22.
Nets 105, Lakers 102
At East Rutherford, N.J., the Nets snapped a three-game losing streak and kept the Lakers winless on the road.
Kevin Edwards scored 23 points and Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson each added 21. The Nets, who had lost five of their previous six games, went into the fourth quarter trailing 84-77, but reeled off the first 10 points.
The Lakers had a chance to tie at the end, but a 3-point attempt by Nick Van Exel with 3 seconds to go fell off the side of the rim. Sedale Threatt led the Lakers with 30.
Kings 103, Bulls 101
At Sacramento, Calif., Walt Williams was back in the Kings lineup after missing the first few weeks of the season with a stress fracture in his left leg.
"It felt pretty good. I worked really hard on it while I was on the injured list and I wasn't very tired out there. It felt good to get out there and run," Williams said after scoring 17 points.
Mitch Richmond had 28 as Sacramento beat the Bulls for the first time since the 1989-90 season.
Trail Blazers 103, Mavericks 90
At Portland, Ore., Clyde Drexler shook off a slow start to score 10 of his 20 points in the third period to spark Portland. Cliff Robinson added 18 for Portland, which sent the Mavericks to their fifth straight loss.
Drexler played only 11 minutes in the first half, scoring seven points and committing five turnovers. For Dallas, Jamal Mashburn scored 21 points, 18 in the first half, and Jim Jackson added 20.