Auburn Hills, Mich ? The Detroit Pistons’ continuity was too much for the changing Miami Heat.

Chauncey Billups scored 30, and Richard Hamilton had 25 points and a season-high nine assists Thursday night to lead the Pistons past the new-look Heat, 106-101, in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference finals.

In their first matchup since the Pistons won at Miami in Game 7 of the series, Detroit made clutch shots and key defensive plays in the final minutes to pull away.

“We’ve been together so long and in so many tough situations, we never get rattled,” Billups said. “Somebody is always coming up big down the stretch.”

The Pistons have had the same starting five for nearly two years, a span that includes one NBA title and falling just short of a repeat, and four of their starters have been together for three long playoff runs.

They have a new coach, Flip Saunders, who has made them better offensively while maintaining their defensive prowess.

“Now, we can score points and lock up, too,” Hamilton said.

Miami added players through free agency and trades in the offseason.

“That team has been together – we haven’t,” Heat center Alonzo Mourning said.

Detroit has won a season-high nine straight games. The Pistons are an NBA-best 24-3, with a 27-game record that trails just two teams in NBA history.

“We’re chasing something bigger than Miami or anybody else,” Ben Wallace said. “We have an opportunity to do something special. We’re not worried about sending messages.”

Dwyane Wade had 33 points, Shaquille O’Neal scored 26, and Jason Williams chipped in with 20 points for the Heat.

Spurs 111, Hornets 84

San Antonio – Michael Finley scored 18 points – including making all four of his three-point shots – and the San Antonio Spurs shut down New Orleans’ offense after the opening minutes.

SuperSonics 112,

Nuggets 105

Denver – Ray Allen scored a season-high 39 points in Seattle’s victory over short-handed Denver.

The Nuggets got 32 points from Carmelo Anthony, but Seattle held him to just two free throws in the final 18 minutes.

Denver was without forward Marcus Camby.