Pistons-Trail Blazers 1st Ld-Writethru,0499 Richard Hamilton scored 21 points and the Detroit Pistons fended off a second-half challenge to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 87-75 on Wednesday night.

The Pistons won the fourth of a five-game road trip which ends at Phoenix on Friday.

Tayshaun Prince added 15 points for Detroit, which led by 18 in the first half before the Trail Blazers tied it early in the second. The Pistons quickly pulled back ahead, and went up 87-70 on Carlos Delfino's dunk with 2:54 left.

Zach Randolph had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who have lost six of their past eight games, including a 107-99 loss at Denver on Tuesday night. Randolph has 35 double-doubles this season.

Both teams appeared sluggish from the start, but the Pistons started to pull away toward the end of the first quarter when Hamilton's long jumper made it 24-14.

The Pistons, coming off a 101-97 victory at Seattle on Tuesday night, extended their margin to 38-20 on Antonio McDyess' jumper. The Blazers went on an 11-3 run to close out the first half to cut the deficit to 45-37.

Portland made only 14 of 39 shots (35.9 percent) from the floor in the first half, while the Pistons hit 20 of 38 (50.6 percent). For the game, Detroit shot 51.4 percent (38-for-74) and Portland shot 39.4 percent (20-for-71).

Portland made up more ground to open the second half. Randolph had a layup and a free throw, rookie LaMarcus Aldridge hit a jumper, and Ime Udoka scored a 3-pointer to tie it at 47.

Former Blazer Rasheed Wallace answered with a jumper and pumped his fist to kick off a 10-0 run that put the Pistons back in front 57-47.

Detroit led 68-58 at the end of the third quarter after Chauncey Billups' 3-pointer.

Detroit has won the past four at the Rose Garden, but lost 88-85 to the Blazers in Detroit on Dec. 5.

Aldridge made his sixth straight start for Portland with center Joel Przybilla out for the rest of the season with knee surgery. He was supposed to be wearing a protective mask after fracturing his nose against Denver, but started without one.

Aldridge had 14 points and 10 rebounds, for his second consecutive double-double.

Notes: Wallace, a former Trail Blazer who became known for his pat "Both teams played hard," comment and was traded away as part of Portland's efforts to overhaul a roster filled of malcontents, still has plenty of fans in the city. There were numerous Wallace jerseys in the crowd, and even applause when he scored in the first quarter. But he also got a hand when he was called for a third foul midway through the second quarter. ... The Pistons are 22-10 on the road, the best road record in the East.