Pistons 86, Knicks 77

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- The Detroit Pistons are determined to prove an NBA team doesn't need a superstar to be successful.

Detroit used 10 players and sat its two leading scorers in the fourth quarter Wednesday night in the Pistons' season-opening 86-77 victory over the New York Knicks.

``We don't need one or two superstars, we've got 12 or 13 good players,'' guard Chucky Atkins said. ``We're all one big superstar group.''

Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups had awkward debuts for the Pistons, leading the team in scoring despite sitting out the fourth quarter. Hamilton scored 22 and Billups added 16, but they watched Jon Barry and Atkins play in their places at shooting and point guard in the final quarter.

Hamilton -- acquired in the trade that sent Jerry Stackhouse to Washington -- and Billups -- signed as a free agent -- both insisted they weren't bothered by being benched.

``The bottom line is winning on this team,'' Billups said. ``The strength of this team is its numbers and depth. A lot of times you're going to go with the hot hand.''

Atkins capped a 15-0 run with three straight 3-pointers as Detroit took a 77-68 lead and control of the game midway through the fourth. Atkins scored 12, and Corliss Williamson had 10 as part of Detroit's rotation, which wore down the injury-depleted Knicks.

Allan Houston scored 31 points and helped New York lead by as many as 12 in the first half. But he didn't have much help with Latrell Sprewell out with a broken hand and Antonio McDyess sidelined for the season by a knee injury.

The Knicks missed 13 straight shots in the midst of Detroit's game-turning run, and Houston was just 1-of-8 in the final quarter.

``I just got a little anxious on my shot,'' said Houston, who scored 17 in the first quarter. ``When I get that hot early, I feel like it will last all night.''

New York's Kurt Thomas scored 17 points, and Othella Harrington added 10.

The Pistons raised their Central Division championship banner before the game. It's their first since 1990, the second year of their back-to-back NBAtitles.

Notes

With the addition of small forward Lee Nailon, who the Knicks signed Thursday, Sprewell said it doesn't make the trade rumors regarding him any better. ``I think it's a little fuel,'' Sprewell said. Nailon will join the Knicks in Philadelphia for their next game. ... Detroit's Ben Wallace had 14 rebounds and two blocks after leading the NBA in both categories last season. ... The Pistons signed Billups as a free agent after his breakthrough season with Minnesota last season. ... New York's Michael Doleac, who did not play inthe preseason, missed the game with a hamstring injury.

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