AP, Cleveland, Mar 26: J.J. Hickson scored 24 points and Baron Davis hit a critical 3-pointer with 9.9 seconds remaining, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 97-91 win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.
The win was only the second in the last 10 games for Cleveland, while Detroit has lost three straight and six of eight. The Cavaliers also broke a seven-game home losing streak.
Davis returned for Cleveland after missing three games because of back spasms. He scored 16 points and had five assists in 24 minutes.
Hickson, who also had 15 rebounds, was 9 of 13 from the field and made all six of his free throws. Ryan Hollins and Luke Harangody scored 10 points apiece for the Cavaliers, who beat the Pistons for the first time in three games this season.
Tayshuan Prince and Richard Hamilton scored 15 points apiece for Detroit.
Detroit cut the lead to 92-91 with 1:39 to play, but Daniel Gibson hit a jumper to give Cleveland a three-point lead. The score remained that way until Davis knocked a down a 3-pointer from the right wing with the shot clock winding down that put it away.
Cleveland led most of the game, but fell behind 53-52 when Detroit scored first in the third quarter. Anthony Parker's jumper gave the Cavaliers the lead for good, but the Cavaliers couldn't pull away.
Austin Daye and Chris Wilcox had 12 points apiece for the Pistons. Rodney Stuckey and Greg Monroe each scored 11 points.
Notes: Detroit F Charlie Villanueva, who exchanged words with coach John Kuester after being removed from Wednesday's game, didn't play Friday. C Ben Wallace (left knee) missed his second straight game. ... Davis, acquired last month from the Los Angeles Clippers, could start for the first time with Cleveland on Sunday against Atlanta. ... Longtime Cavaliers radio play-by-play man Joe Tait, who has missed the entire season because of health reasons, will return to work Sunday. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last summer.