Bizarre play leads Detroit to victory

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Richard Hamilton caught a pass, missed a 3-pointer and was fouled - by a coach.

Hamilton was credited with the basket because Seattle coach Bob Hill interfered with him in what became a four-point possession, helping the Detroit Pistons pull away late in the fourth quarter of a 97-85 win over the SuperSonics on Friday night.

"I didn't think he fouled me, but I'll take it," Hamilton said. "It was a major play."

Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince each scored 21 points and Hamilton had 15 for the Pistons, who have won 11 of 12 and have the NBA's best record.

Seattle's Rashard Lewis scored 27, Ray Allen had 22 points and Johan Petro added 10 in Hill's second game as Sonics coach.

When Hamilton received a pass in front of Seattle's bench, Hill had both feet on the court. Hill tried to get out of the way, but as Hamilton jumped to shoot a 3-pointer, the coach's leg appeared to bump the player.

Official Bob Delaney ruled that the 3-pointer was good because Hill interfered with the shot, which drew an automatic technical foul. Hill tore off his jacket in protest and stomped on the sideline.

"At first, they said I touched him and then they said I changed the shot," Hill said. "I didn't touch him. I might have been on the floor, but coaches do that. I asked if they were going to give them the ball, too, but they said we could keep it. That was nice of them.

"They certainly got some momentum from it. I'm afraid to say anything else, but I didn't understand the call."

During a timeout later in the game, a reporter asked Delaney if he had ever seen the call made, and the veteran official said he had.

Billups made the technical free throw to give Detroit a four-point possession and an 87-76 lead with 4:19 left.

"That most definitely took us out of the game," Lewis said.