BILLUPS: LB WILL GROW ON KNICKS
by Brian Lewis

Before the Pistons stifled the Nets 93-83 last night — and with Larry Brown returning to Detroit tomorrow — Chauncey Billups said Brown's job saga became a sideshow last year, Detroit is better offensively under Flip Saunders, and he knew the Knicks would struggle adjusting to his demanding ways.

But Billups also said Brown gave the team everything he had last year. And the Piston guard learned from personal experience that growing pains under Brown are more pain than growth for a while, but was certain if the Knicks subjugated their egos, he'll eventually make them a better team.

NETS RIP-PED
by Fred Kerber

The Nets looked at this as a test.
They failed.

They looked at it as a measuring stick.
They didn't measure up.

At least for now, they say.

"Right now, they [the Pistons] are the better team," Richard Jefferson said after Detroit emerged with a 93-83 victory at the Meadowlands. "But I think we showed we're going to be OK.

JEFFERSON TAKES HIGH ROAD
by Fred Kerber

The last time Richard Jefferson was on a basketball court with Chauncey Billups, he was undercut, landed on his left wrist and saw his season essentially ended by a ruptured ligament. Jefferson subsequently called it a dirty play. Billups, naturally, disagreed.


Pistons bury Nets from deep
BY ANTHONY RIEBER

Nets coach Lawrence Frank called last night's game with the Pistons "a great challenge, a great opportunity."

In their first game back from a 2-3 Western swing, the Nets weren't up to the challenge and didn't take advantage of the opportunity. Of course, the Pistons had a lot to do with that.

Behind Richard Hamilton's 30 points, Detroit improved to an NBA-best 11-2 with a 93-83 victory at Continental Airlines Arena.