Chauncey Billups

The day after the Detroit Pistons' Game 1 win over the 76ers in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, no one was more in demand than Arnie Kander. That isn't the best news for the Pistons, since Kander isn't a guard, forward, center or coach. His expertise lies in injuries. And the topic was the injured left ankle of Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups, who torched the Sixers for 24 points in 31 minutes of Tuesday's 98-87 Pistons victory. Kander, the strength and conditioning coach for the Pistons, was yesterday's most requested speaker.

The Detroit Pistons showed New Jersey they can do more than just play defense. Chauncey Billups had 28 points and a playoff career high 13 assists, Richard Hamilton scored 28 and the Pistons defeated visiting New Jersey last night, 95-80, to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is tomorrow night in New Jersey. Rasheed Wallace had 15 points and three blocks and Corliss Williamson had 11 for the Pistons. Kenyon Martin and Richard Hamilton had 19 points each for the Nets.

THE NBA free-agent period has begun — at least the discussing of contracts and the rumor mill part of it. And all the talk and rumor-mongering will continue to pile up and draw flies until the free agents can actually start signing on July 11. But to help out some of the teams, we've categorized a few of the restricted and unresticted free agents into groups that will make it easier for general managers to sort through. The "I was drafted before Allen Iverson" squad: Grant Hill (39)

The Pistons today will announce the signing of free-agent guard Chauncey Billups to a 6-year contract worth about $33.7 million, the Detroit Free Press reported. Last season, Billups enjoyed one of his best seasons, averaging 12.5 points, 5.5 assists for Minnesota, playing all 82 games. Noteworthy State police in New Jersey rejected a newspaper's request to turn over tapes of the 911 call made after a limousine driver was shot to death at the home of former NBA star Jayson Williams.

TOP FIVE (Records through Friday.) 1. Dallas (39-11): Jerry Stackhouse is giving the Mavericks a huge lift off the bench. 2. Detroit (41-8): With Chauncey Billups a little banged up, the Pistons dropped two straight. 3. San Antonio (39-10): The Spurs are rounding into form at the expected time. 4. Phoenix (33-17): Can they hold on until Amare Stoudemire gets back? 5. L.A. Clippers (30-18): If Corey Maggette gets healthy after the all-star break, look out. Moving up: Washington (no defense to speak of, but the offense is clicking on all cylinders)

The 76ers' Andre Iguodala compares favorably with other NBA players in the same salary range who may be considered one step below elite. Here are their career averages, with 2010-11 salary in millions:   Andre Iguodala, Sixers   15.9       5.8    4.6    26      $12.4 Josh Smith, Atl.         14.3       7.6   2.9    24      $11.7 Luol Deng, Chi.         15.8       6.5    2.2   25      $11.

Allen Iverson will make his debut for Detroit when the Pistons visit New Jersey tonight. Nets point guard Devis Harris hopes his team is ready. "He's willing to sacrifice," Harris said of Iverson. "He's proven that he can still get assists, that he can be that assists guy. He still likes to get his shots up, though obviously that's one of the things that have to give if they're going to start him at the point. Playing pick-and-roll with 'Sheed' [Rasheed Wallace] and Allen, that's pretty much a nightmare.

Chauncey Billups scored 28 points, three on a disputed shot at the end of the third quarter, as Detroit got past visiting Orlando, 100-93, last night to take a 2-0 lead in the second-round series. Billups officially made a three-pointer with 0.5 seconds left in the third. The possession started with 5.1 seconds as Billups dribbled in the backcourt and it appeared to take 5.2 seconds according to replays the officials weren't allowed to use during a delay lasting several minutes.

J.R. Smith and Nene scored 19 points each, Chauncey Billups had 14 points and 10 assists and the Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to three with a 121-96 win over the visiting New Jersey Nets last night. The Nets played without injured point guard Devin Harris (sprained left shoulder) and forward Sean Williams, who was arrested yesterday at a cell phone store in a mall in suburban Denver on accusations he got into an argument with a clerk and threw a computer monitor.

With New Orleans still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets will play most of their home games in Oklahoma City next season. The NBA announced yesterday that the Hornets will play 35 games in Oklahoma City and six in New Orleans in 2006-07. Commissioner David Stern said in a statement the league remains committed to returning to New Orleans and is hopeful the Hornets will return there full time in the 2007-08 season. Last night's games Lakers 130, Knicks 97 NEW YORK - Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, despite making only one field goal in the second half, to lead Los Angeles over a frustrated New York.

NEW YORK - After a blistering December in which they went 16-0, the Los Angeles Clippers were in the discussion for best team in the NBA. The Clippers then slipped, with injuries being the biggest cause. But now they are regaining their health and confidence. The Clippers enter Monday's game against the 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center with momentum after Sunday afternoon's 102-88 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. They are 3-4 on an eight-game road trip that ends in Philadelphia.

THE NBA free-agent period has begun — at least the discussing of contracts and the rumor mill part of it. And all the talk and rumor-mongering will continue to pile up and draw flies until the free agents can actually start signing on July 11. But to help out some of the teams, we've categorized a few of the restricted and unresticted free agents into groups that will make it easier for general managers to sort through. The "I was drafted before Allen Iverson" squad: Grant Hill (39)

MAALIK WAYNS is well aware of the various projections. For what they're worth, most NBA mock drafts have the former Villanova point guard going somewhere in the bottom half of the second round on June 28. If they have him getting taken at all. He doesn't care. Nor should he. Because it only takes one team. And then it's going to be up to him to make something happen. "I look at a couple of people they have [rated] in front of me, and I feel as though I'm as good or better than them," said the Roman Catholic product, who left college a year early to pursue his lifelong dream.

The 76ers begin a three-game road trip on Saturday in Cleveland but will miss seeing one of the league's bright young players. Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 overall selection in the NBA draft out of Duke, won't play on Saturday due to a concussion. Cavaliers coach Byron Scott told reporters that Irving's next chance to play will be Wednesday against the visiting Indiana Pacers. Saturday will be the third consecutive game Irving will miss. A graduate of St. Patrick's High in Elizabeth, N.J., Irving suffered the injury when he was kneed in the head during Tuesday's 107-91 loss at Miami.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS guard Chauncey Billups will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his left Achilles' tendon during a victory over the Magic in Orlando on Monday. The team said an MRI yesterday confirmed Billups' injury. Billups will return to Los Angeles for further evaluation; a date for surgery hasn't been determined. The five-time All-Star, whom the Clippers claimed off waivers in December, was averaging 14.9 points and 4.0 assists in 30.4 minutes per game.

KEVIN LOVE'S frustration with physical play and officiating have been apparent early and often this season. Emotion got the best of him on Saturday against the Houston Rockets, and now he and the Minnesota Timberwolves have to pay the price: Love, his team's leading scorer and rebounder, was suspended for two games by the NBA for "driving his foot into the upper body and face of the Rockets' Luis Scola as Scola was lying on the floor. " The play happened in the third quarter of the victory over the Rockets after the two tangled while going for a rebound.

The Los Angeles Clippers were unable to acquire Chris Paul, but they were able to land the rights to Chauncey Billups on Tuesday. On Monday the Clippers nixed a deal with New Orleans for Paul and by Tuesday it was reported that they had moved on entirely. Billups was placed on waivers after the New York Knicks exercised the "amnesty clause" on Friday. According to ESPN, the Clippers won the rights with a $2 million bid, which leaves the Knicks on the hook to pay the remaining $14.2 million that remains on Billups' salary this season.

THE DAY BEGAN with the Los Angeles Clippers rejecting a proposed deal by the New Orleans Hornets for Chris Paul and it ended with them claiming five-time All-Star guard Chauncey Billups off waivers and re-signing center DeAndre Jordan. General manager Neil Olshey said yesterday the team felt "the cost was just too high" in what it would have to give up to acquire Paul. Olshey declined to identify whom the Clippers had offered in exchange for Paul but their package reportedly included center Chris Kaman, reserve guard Eric Bledsoe, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and their No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft.

OAKLAND - Just about an hour before last night's game against the Golden State Warriors, swingman Andre Iguodala informed coach Doug Collins that he wasn't able to go due to "a sore leg. " Iguodala missed time earlier this season due to a strained tendon in his right Achilles' and has struggled offensively in his past two games, shooting just 5-for-23 from the floor and scoring a total of 18 points. "We were hoping tonight that if the game was close we could play him on Monta Ellis late," said Collins.

The 76ers' Andre Iguodala compares favorably with other NBA players in the same salary range who may be considered one step below elite. Here are their career averages, with 2010-11 salary in millions:   Andre Iguodala, Sixers   15.9       5.8    4.6    26      $12.4 Josh Smith, Atl.         14.3       7.6   2.9    24      $11.7 Luol Deng, Chi.         15.8       6.5    2.2   25      $11.