Detroit 105, Boston 95: When we last left Detroit Friday, the Pistons had lost eight in a row and were traveling to two Eastern Conference powers: Orlando and Boston. Solution – insert Rip Hamilton into the starting lineup. And Detroit won both of them. Worth noting: Iverson didn’t play in either win.

Utah 112, Golden State 104: Healthy and rolling – the Jazz have won eight straight. They can even win on the road when Deron Williams endures a 3-for-12 night (though he did have 20 assists). The D-League lovin‘ Warriors were without Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson, but got 20-8-4 blocks from rookie Anthony Randolph.

Denver 94, Indiana 100: Go figure with the Nuggets – lose at Milwaukee, pasted by the Celtics at home, then beat the Lakers, and now lose at Indy? No Danny Granger or Mike Dunleavy Indy? The Nuggets ran out of gas in the fourth and as a result are just one game up on the Rockets for the 3rd seed in the West.

San Antonio 84, Portland 102: Tim Duncan returned, but Manu didn’t, and it mattered not – Portland surged to a large early lead and coasted. Roy and Aldridge split 52; still no Oden.

LA Lakers 111, Phoenix 118: We kept waiting for the Suns collapse – Nash sat out, Shaq (33 points) fouled out – and then Matt Barnes (!) of all people played well down the stretch (Louis Amundson deserves props, too) and the Suns held on for a real nice win to keep hope alive for that 8th playoff spot. Barnes, who has a hideous collection of tattoos, played his best game in a Suns uniform, scoring 26 points, collecting 10 rebounds and dishing seven assists.