NBA | Rodney Stuckey leads "B" Pistons past Wolves

MINNEAPOLIS — With mentor Chauncey Billups watching his every move from the sideline, rookie Rodney Stuckey did his best "Mr. Big Shot" impression for the Detroit Pistons' "B" squad.

As Billups has done so many times before in a Detroit uniform, Stuckey, a rookie from Kentwood High School and Eastern Washington, did much of his damage when his team needed him most, scoring 12 of his career-high 27 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Pistons to a 94-90 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

"I've always said he's one of those guys, the bigger the game, the bigger the situation, the more responsibility he has and he wants," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders, who gave Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton the night off to rest for the playoffs. "He took that responsibility and made plays."

Detroit trailed by 21 points midway through the second quarter, but after a pep talk from Billups and Wallace, Stuckey took over in the fourth. He hit a step-back jumper over Randy Foye to give the Pistons a 90-88 lead with 45 seconds to go and added three free throws down the stretch.

"We just came in at halftime and Rasheed and Billups and those guys said I wasn't being aggressive enough," said Stuckey, the 15th overall pick. "In the second half I was just trying to be more aggressive and get the ball to the basket."

Al Jefferson had 26 points and seven rebounds but only managed 12 shots while being hounded by double- and triple-teams all night.

Foye scored 18 points but was just 6 for 14 from the field, committed a costly turnover in the closing minutes and rushed an off-balance shot out of a timeout with 45 seconds to go to seal the loss.

It was a demoralizing defeat for the improving Timberwolves, who had won four straight at home and seven of their past 12 overall to ease the sting of a 5-34 start to the season.

"We're very disappointed we let this one go," Wolves forward Craig Smith said. "We really beat ourselves by letting them back into the ballgame."

Detroit started the night six games back of first-place Boston in the East and 5 ½ ahead of third-place Orlando, making its standing as the No. 2 seed about as close to a sure thing as could be with the playoffs nine games away.

With that in mind, president of basketball operations Joe Dumars told Saunders it might be a good idea to get some of his weary veteran starters some rest. So Wallace, Billups and Hamilton watched from the bench as Stuckey, Arron Afflalo and Walter Herrmann took over for the night.

"At this level, everybody can play," Afflalo said.

Knicks to hire Walsh

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks will turn their basketball operations over to Donnie Walsh today.

The New York Times and The Associated Press both reported that Walsh will be introduced as the Knicks' new president at a news conference. Walsh, a longtime Indiana Pacers executive, will replace Isiah Thomas as president. Thomas is also the Knicks' coach, and his fate after this season is uncertain.

Notes

• The Dallas Mavericks upgraded the injury status of Dirk Nowitzki to day to day as they prepare to face Golden State today in a pivotal Western Conference game. The reigning MVP, who has been out since spraining his left ankle and knee March 23, will be re-evaluated to see if he can play against the Warriors.

• Charlotte Bobcats owner Bob Johnson believes first-year coach Sam Vincent is the right man for the job. But Johnson said the decision on whether Vincent will return next season rests with part-owner and basketball operations chief Michael Jordan.

• Dwyane Wade, the 2006 NBA Finals MVP, and several other injured Heat players will work the phones at halftime of Miami's game today against New Orleans, fielding calls from people looking to buy season tickets.

• The Houston Rockets signed backup center Loren Woods to a second 10-day contract.

• The Los Angeles Lakers signed forward Ira Newble, 33, for the remainder of the season.