<div align="center"><font size=""3""><font color=""Red"">Detroit Pistons 93</font> , <font color=""Purple"">Los Angeles Lakers 78</font></font></div> <u><div align="center"><font size=""3"">Top Performers:</font></u></div> [div=50%] <div align="center"> <font size="1"><u>Ronny Turiaf</u> 5/9, 13 Points, 11 Rebounds, 1 Assist 0 Steals, 2 Blocks</font></div> [/div] <div align="center"> <font size="1"><u>Rasheed Wallace</u> 7/13, 18 Points, 10 Rebounds, 2 Assists 3 Steals, 3 Blocks</font> </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points and Chris Webber had 18 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 93-78 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. The Pistons have won five straight -- building a two-game lead for the best record in the Eastern Conference -- and are 9-2 with Webber in the starting lineup. Kobe Bryant had 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting and eight turnovers, one short of his career high. The Pistons built a double-digit lead in the first quarter with crisp ball movement that led to 11 assists on 12 baskets and didn't have much trouble maintaining the cushion for the rest of the game. They have won eight straight at home against Los Angeles, including three victories in the 2004 Finals that were Shaquille O'Neal's last games with the Lakers. Detroit's Rasheed Wallace scored 18 and grabbed 10 rebounds and Richard Hamilton had 16 points and seven assists. Webber had his third double-double since signing with the Pistons three weeks ago, and scored at least 12 points for the fifth straight game. Los Angeles had balanced scoring, but much of it came too late. Ronny Turiaf scored 13, Lamar Odom had 12 points, Smush Parker scored 11 and rookie Jordan Farmar added 10 for the Lakers, who fell to 3-3 on their eight-game road trip. The Pistons looked fantastic on offense during the first quarter -- when they essentially won the game -- and Webber had a lot to do with it. Without the ball, Webber's passing has encouraged them to cut through the lane and curl around picks more often. Four different players had assists and Detroit made 60 percent of its shouts to help build a 28-17 lead. Webber had eight points, five rebounds, three assists and no turnovers in the first quarter. Bryant deferred to his teammates until taking and making his first shot, a 3-pointer with 27.5 seconds left in the quarter. Detroit led 48-36 at halftime and 73-59 after three quarters. The Pistons built their biggest lead, a 20-point cushion in the final quarter and coasted to the victory. <u>Notes:</u> The last time the Lakers won at the Palace was Jan. 8, 2002. ... In the previous meeting this season, the Pistons won 97-83 on Nov. 10 at Los Angeles. ... Detroit is 9-8 against the Western Conference and the Lakers are 13-10 against the East. ... Webber made his first 3-pointer in 12 games with the Pistons, and his third this season. ... Mateen Cleaves, a former Pistons first-round pick and Michigan State star, joined the Bakersfield (Calif.) Jam of the NBA Development League on Thursday.</div> <font size=""1"">Courtesy Of Yahoo! Sports</font>
