AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (AP):

Richard Hamilton returned from a hip injury to score 14 points and lead the Detroit Pistons to an 85-71 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA on Saturday.

The Cavs did, however, clinch a spot in the play-offs as Saturday's results left rivals too far back to make it with games running out. LeBron James had a lacklustre night with 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting with five assists and five turnovers.

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Phoenix Suns beat New Jersey 110-104 to move into a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers atop the Pacific Division. Amare Stoudemire had 33 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Suns.

The Nets fell two games behind Atlanta in the race for the final play-off berth in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey has eight games left, two less than the Hawks.

In Chicago, the home side held on to beat Milwaukee Bucks 114-111 after nearly squandering a 21-point fourth-quarter lead.

Rookie Joakim Noah scored a season-high 18 points and had 15 rebounds for the Bulls, who pulled within 3 -1/2 games of Atlanta for the final play-off spot in the East. The Bucks lost for the 12th time in 14 games in March.

In Denver, the home side surged past Golden State Warriors 119-112 in the wild Western Conference play-off race. Kenyon Martin scored a season-high 30 points as the Nuggets staved off a furious rally by the Warriors in the closing minutes.

The Nuggets moved half a game ahead of the Warriors for the eighth and final West play-off spot and pulled within half a game of sliding Dallas for seventh.