Detroit leads the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-1, but may have to play without All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups.

The Pistons lost Billups just 4 minutes into the game when he drove to the basket and got tangled with Orlando's Jameer Nelson. Billups, who was averaging 17.5 points in the postseason, suffered a strained right hamstring.

Richard Hamilton scored 24 points for Detroit. Dwight Howard had 20 points for Orlando.

In another game:

* At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 32 points and Lamar Odom had 19 points and 16 rebounds as the Lakers defeated Utah, 120-110, to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Noteworthy

Carlisle is the only candidate the team has interviewed since firing Avery Johnson last Wednesday.

"Everything is going in a positive direction," said Donnie Nelson, the team's president of basketball operations.

* New Jersey forward Richard Jefferson was charged with assault yesterday for allegedly grabbing a man by the throat in a Minneapolis club earlier this year.

Jefferson was in Minneapolis with the team on Jan. 27 when, according to the criminal report, he went to a club in the Graves Hotel and got into an argument with Lyle Fox, who was having a birthday party in a roped-off section.

Jefferson is accused of shoving Fox into a bench and choking him with both hands. His court hearing is set for June 18.

* Point guard Gilbert Arenas insists he won't return to Washington if forward Antawn Jamison isn't re-signed by the team.

Arenas, a three-time All-Star who missed most of this season after two operations on his left knee, is set to become a free agent and can opt out of his contract.

* Atlanta general manager Billy Knight says he's stepping down as of July 1. He has been the Hawks' GM for 6 years.

In other Hawks news, forward Marvin Williams was suspended one game without pay for committing a flagrant foul in Sunday's Game 7 playoff loss in Boston. He will serve the suspension in next season's first game.

* Denver's Carmelo Anthony was ticketed for speeding, 3 weeks after he was cited on a charge of driving under the influence. Denver police said he was pulled over Saturday for driving 60 mph in a 45-mph zone and fined $130. *