NBA BASKETBALL

PISTONS’ BIG THREE NEARLY BEAT 76ERS ALONE

The Motor City’s Big Three outscored Philadelphia’s entire team when it mattered.

Chauncey Billups scored 21 points, Richard Hamilton had 20 and Rasheed Wallace added 19 to lift the Pistons to a 98–81 victory over the 76ers on Tuesday night and a 3-2 lead in the first-round series.

Detroit leads in the series for the first time after being the first team to win consecutive games.

If the Pistons win Game 6 on Thursday night in Philadelphia or Game 7 at home, they will advance in the playoffs for the seventh year in a row.

The third-seeded Orlando Magic, who eliminated Toronto on Monday night, await the winner in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

PAUL’S TRIPLE-DOUBLE HELPS HORNETS ADVANCE PAST DALLAS

Byron Scott accepted his NBA coach of the year award, then guided his team to the second round of the playoffs.

Chris Paul had 24 points, 15 assists, and 11 rebounds, and the New Orleans Hornets held on for a 99-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks last night to win their first-round series in five games. David West scored 25 for New Orleans and Jannero Pargo had 17, while Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Devean George added 11 points in the fourth quarter as Dallas nearly pulled off an improbable comeback. The Mavs cut a 17-point deficit to three in the final seven minutes before Peja Stojakovic hit a pair of free throws to seal it with 5.7 seconds left.

Tempers flared near the end, and Jerry Stackhouse was ejected for a second technical foul with 1:47 left after slapping the ball out of Paul’s hands during a stoppage in play, then getting in a face-toface standoff with West.

BASEBALL

SMOLTZ GOES ON DL WITH SHOULDER PROBLEM

Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz went on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with an ailing right shoulder, though the Braves were told he can get over the problem without surgery.

Smoltz was examined in Birmingham, Ala., by Dr. James Andrews, who diagnosed a severely inflamed biceps tendon and inflammation of the rotator cuff in the right shoulder. The 40-year-old pitcher went on the DL retroactive to Monday.

SOCCER

RONALDO GOES INTO HIDING IN BRAZIL

Ronaldo went into hiding yesterday after a run-in with cross-dressing prostitutes that prompted police to investigate whether to charge one with trying to extort money from the soccer star.

The AC Milan player, in Brazil recovering from a knee surgery, canceled two TV appearances, and local media said he will continue physiotherapy at his home.

Police said Ronaldo committed no crime, but he was accused by one prostitute of using drugs and not wanting to pay.

Prostitution is legal in Brazil.

“It is necessary to clarify that no formal accusations were made against Ronaldo,” read a statement on the player’s Web site. “An advocate of social causes, Ronaldo has never used drugs and has always been admired by children in Brazil and around the world. There are indications of an extortion attempt in which the Milan striker is the only victim.”