The Associated Press

ATLANTA - Ben Wallace made two late free throws - his first points of the game - and had a block on the next possession, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Atlanta Hawks 87-84 Saturday night.

Richard Hamilton scored 28 and Bob Sura added a season-high 13 for the Pistons, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Sura was the 24th player this season to get his highest point total against Atlanta.

Jason Terry and Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 20 apiece but couldn't stop the Hawks from losing for the ninth time in 10 games. Going back a bit further, they're 6-17 in their past 23.

Wallace was 0-for-3 from the field but came through at the line after being fouled on a layup with 1:44 left and the score 81-81. Only a 53 percent foul shooter, he swished both shots to give Detroit the lead for good.

Atlanta went to Abdur-Rahim on the next possession, but Wallace blocked his turnaround jumper and corralled the miss. The Pistons worked the ball to Hamilton, who banked in shot from near the top of the key with Dion Glover's hand in his face.

The Pistons appeared to be cruising when Chauncey Billups hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give them a 60-47 lead. A night earlier in a loss to the New Orleans Hornets, coach Terry Stotts benched all of his starters for the remainder of the game after the Hawks fell way behind in the third quarter.

He stuck with them in this one, and they responded with a spirited quarter in which Terry outscored the entire Pistons team 10-9.

PACERS: Indiana coach Rick Carlisle was ejected in the third quarter of Saturday night's game against the New Jersey Nets.

Carlisle became infuriated when referee Scott Wall called Jermaine O'Neal for a foul on Nets point guard Jason Kidd with 3:54 to play in the third quarter.

Carlisle crossed the halfcourt line and berated Wall with profanity as Austin Croshere restrained him, prompting the official to issue two quick technical fouls.

Several Pacers argued with all three officials throughout the game. O'Neal drew a technical foul in the first quarter.

HEAT: Forward Samaki Walker was activated from the injured list by Miami before Saturday night's game against the New York Knicks.

Starting guard Dwyane Wade wasn't in uniform after spraining his right wrist in Friday's victory at Washington.

"It's pretty stiff," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "It's not a major injury there."

Wade's status is day-to-day.

The Knicks made a change in their lineup, elevating Frank Williams to the starting point guard spot in place of Howard Eisley.