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Richard Hamilton scored 20 points, Rasheed Wallace had 16 to lead seven players in double figures as the Pistons stretched their winning streak to 10 games, with a 106-93 road victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.

 Even though the league-leading Boston Celtics (27-3) have captured the headlines through the first two months of the season, the veteran Pistons (25-7) have quietly and efficiently been taking care of their own business with 18 victories in the last 20 games.

 "Whenever you get in a situation like we're in now, it's because you take it one game at a time," said Pistons Flip Saunders, honoured as the Eastern Conference Coach for December. "Our team is playing at a high level and they've played at a high level for 30 days."

   Jason Maxiell scored 15 points and fellow-reserve Jarvis Hayes added 12 in his first game against his former team as the Pistons' bench outscored the Wizards' substitutes, 36-8.

 Caron Butler led the Wizards (15-15) with 22 points and Antawn Jamison had 21.

 "When you play against the best - and I do think the Pistons are the best team in the league - you have to respond to them," Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan said. "If this were a test, I'd give us a C or C-minus."

   The Pistons built a 57-47 halftime cushion and led 84-72 after three quarters. A 10-0 run to tip off the final frame stretched the margin to 20 en route to the easy win.

 Elsewhere:

   Boston Celtics 97, Houston Rockets 93    Kevin Garnett scored 11 of his 26 points in the final frame, including a game-sealing jumper with 22.6 seconds left, helping the host Celtics to their seventh straight victory.

 Paul Pierce had 19 points for league-best Boston, which became just the fifth team in history to open the season with a 27-3 record.

 Bonzi Wells tallied a season-high 25 points while China's Yao Ming had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets (15-17) who were without Tracy McGrady (sore left knee) for the fourth consecutive game.

 Chicago Bulls 109, Charlotte Bobcats 97    Ben Gordon scored 22 points, Luol Deng had 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Bulls improved to 3-1 under interim head coach Jim Boylan.

 Jason Richardson led the Bobcats (11-19) with 28 points while Gerald Wallace had 23 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

 Dallas Mavericks 121, Golden State Warriors 99    Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points, Josh Howard had 19 along with 13 rebounds and the Mavericks opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to pull away from the rival Warriors.

 Stephen Jackson scored 25 points for the visiting Warriors (19-14) who stunned the Mavericks last spring to become the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 in the first round of a seven-game playoff series.

 Milwaukee Bucks 103, Miami Heat 98    Mo Williams had 12 of his 25 points in the final quarter and the Bucks snapped a nine-game road losing streak.

 Dwyane Wade scored 27 points for Miami (8-24) playing its third straight game without Shaquille O'Neal due to left hip soreness.

 Cleveland Cavaliers 98, Atlanta Hawks 94    LeBron James scored 32 of his 36 points in the second half to carry the Cavaliers past the host Hawks.

 Joe Johnson led the Hawks (15-14) with 24 points.

 Portland Trail Blazers 90, Minnesota Timberwolves 79    Brandon Roy scored 24 points while LaMarcus Aldridge had 17 points and 11 rebounds, leading the visiting Blazers to their 14th win in the last 15 games.

 Al Jefferson led the league-worst Timberwolves (4-27) with 29 points and 16 rebounds.

 New Jersey Nets Nets 96, Orlando Magic 95    Vince Carter scored 18 points and Jason Kidd stripped Hedo Turkoglu on a drive to the basket with 13 seconds left, helping the visiting Nets overcome a 15-point deficit.

 Turkoglu led Orlando (22-12) with 23 points.

 Memphis Grizzlies 90, Indiana Pacers 72    Spaniard Pau Gasol had 30 points and 12 rebounds, helping the visiting Grizzlies snap a five-game slide.

 Mike Dunleavy scored 16 points in the Pacers' (15-18) fifth straight setback.

 Sacramento Kings 107, New York Knicks 97    John Salmons had a career-high 32 points and 11 rebounds while Brad Miller added 26 points and 16 rebounds, helping the visiting Kings end a four-game slide.

 Eddy Curry led the Knicks (8-22) with 24 points.

 Utah Jazz 110, Philadelphia 76ers 107    Newly-acquired Kyle Korver scored 14 points, including five free throws in the final 26 seconds against his former team, helping the Jazz edge the visiting Sixers.

 Carlos Boozer led Utah (18-16) with 22 points while Deron Williams handed out a season-high 20 assists to go along with 15 points.

 Andre Iguodala led the Sixers (14-18) with a season-high 30 points.

 New Orleans Hornets 95, LA Clippers 81    David West had 29 points and 10 rebounds while Chris Paul added 16 points and 13 assists, sparking the visiting Hornets to their sixth win in the last seven games.

 Corey Maggette scored 20 points for the Clippers (10-20) who have lost seven of their last eight games.