Manu Ginobili ... led the Spurs to victory with 37 points. - Reuters

DETROIT (Reuters):

ANDRES NOCIONI scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half to help the Chicago Bulls snap the Detroit Pistons' five-game winning streak with a 98-91 victory on Friday night.

Former Piston Ben Wallace added 10 points, 13 rebounds and had four blocked shots for the Bulls, who grabbed their fourth victory in five games.

Nocioni put the Bulls in front 73-71 with two free throws to start the fourth quarter, then sealed the win with a layup with 44 seconds left in the game that gave Chicago a 97-88 lead.

"We're playing more like a team and with more confidence," Nocioni said. "I believe we're starting to play like we play, move the ball, drive to the basket, take the open shot and play hard on defence. This is how we need to play."

Nocioni went seven of 14 from the field, including two three-pointers and sank six of seven free throws.

"When it came down to it, we couldn't guard Nocioni," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "We tried to stay big and he either took threes or drove around us. We just couldn't contain him at all."

Chauncey Billups kept Detroit in the game with 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter. He pulled the Pistons within three points at 86-83 on a layup with 2:58 remaining before Luol Deng's jumper and Chris Duhon's three-pointer put Chicago ahead 91-83.

Retained home record

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs retained their unbeaten home record with a 104-98 victory over the Utah Jazz, their 12th win at home this season.

Manu Ginobili scored 37 points for the Spurs, who won their fifth straight game despite playing without the injured Tim Duncan. Carlos Boozer had 28 points and 17 rebounds and Deron Williams scored 28 points and handed out 10 assists for Utah.

The Boston Celtics recorded their 10th successive victory at home with a 112-84 win over the Toronto Raptors. Kevin Garnett scored 23 points and Paul Pierce 18 as the Celtics improved to 16-2. Anthony Parker topped the depleted Raptors with 13 points.

Amare Stoudemire scored 27 points while Steve Nash had a season-high 19 assists as the Phoenix Suns won their fifth successive game with a 122-107 win over the Washington Wizards. Andray Blatche led Washington with 19. Yao Ming scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Tracy McGrady added 24 points in the Houston Rockets' 96-89 win over the New Jersey Nets.

Vince Carter had 32 and Richard Jefferson 29 for the Nets.

Danny Granger had 27 points and Jamaal Tinsley added 20 points and 10 assists as the Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic 115-109. Dwight Howard scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for Orlando.

Samuel Dalembert's 20 points helped the Philadelphia 76ers to a 101-90 victory over the New York Knicks to end a three-game losing streak. Jamal Crawford scored 28 points for the Knicks.

Stephen Jackson had 28 points, Baron Davis 25 and Monta Ellis 21 as the Golden State Warriors rallied to a 120-113 victory over the Miami Heat, who lost their fifth straight.