WASHINGTON (AP):

Kwame Brown prevented Gilbert Arenas from a stunning finish to his first NBA game in almost a year, by blocking his last-seconds shot to preserve the Detroit Pistons' 98-96 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

Arenas finished with 15 points and 10 assists in 30 minutes in his first game since April 27, 2008. The three-time All-Star had missed 156 of his team's previous 173 games, including play-offs, due to a knee injury that spawned two overeager comeback attempts and three surgeries, over an 18-month span.

Losing streak

Richard Hamilton, back after missing six games with a left groin injury, scored 16 of his 31 points in the third quarter as the Pistons broke a three-game losing streak and moved within percentage points of Chicago for seventh place in the Eastern Conference play-off race.

At Chicago, John Salmons scored 22 points and hit two late three-pointers as Chicago pulled out a wild 112-106 victory over Indiana for its fourth straight win.

Ben Gordon added 25 points as the Bulls matched their longest win streak in two years.

Danny Granger scored 32 and Brandon Rush added a career-high 29 for the Pacers.

Career double-double

At Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 27 points, Udonis Haslem had 16 points and 12 rebounds for his 100th career double-double and Miami improved their stance in the Eastern Conference play-off chase, by beating reeling Milwaukee Bucks 102-85.

James Jones and Michael Beasley each scored 11 and Jermaine O'Neal added 10 for the Heat, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Richard Jefferson scored 32 and Dan Gadzuric had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which lost their fifth straight.

At Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace had 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and Charlotte Bobcats matched a modest franchise record for victories by beating New York Knicks 96-85.

Larry Brown earned a split in the season series with his former team, coaching the fifth-year Bobcats to their 33rd win in his first season to stay in the hunt for their first play-off berth.

Wilson Chandler and Al Harrington scored 18 points apiece for the Knicks, who lost for the seventh time in eight games.