AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) – The Cleveland Cavaliers' disappointment in Lamond Murray has faded.

Last week, Cleveland coach Randy Wittman benched Murray for a game because he was disappointed in the forward's performance. Wittman was behind Murray after Sunday's game.

"Lamond pretty much carried us out there," Wittman said. "We really needed this game. I don't care if it was a road game or a home game. We just needed a win."

Chris Gatling and Clarence Weatherspoon each added 13 points for Cleveland, which last won a road game at Golden State on Jan. 15.

"Sometimes, you just need the shots to go to win games," Jackson said. "We haven't been getting that, so it felt good to finish this one off and get a win."

Jerry Stackhouse scored 35 points, Joe Smith 18 and Ben Wallace had six points, 10 rebounds and a career-high eight blocked shots for Detroit, which lost for the fourth time in five games.

"I'd trade those eight blocks for eight more rebounds – that would have helped a lot more," Wallace said. "I think we are playing not to lose. We need to play to win, and not be so passive."

Cleveland led 52-49 at the half, and the teams traded the lead though the third period before settling for a 76-76 tie at the end of the quarter.

Murray scored the first four points of the fourth as Cleveland assumed the lead, but Detroit tied the game at 82 with 8:32 left.

Cleveland moved out to a 93-82 lead as Detroit failed to score for nearly four minutes. Wesley Person highlighted Cleveland's 11-point run with two 3-pointers.

One of Person's 3s came after Smith missed a dunk.

"I caught the ball and pump-faked, only to realize that no one had been on me," Smith said. "That gave someone a chance to get back. Regardless if I got fouled or not, it's my fault. I hesitated, and it cost me."

Detroit closed within three points with eight straight free throws, but Wallace missed two attempts with 2:53 left that could have made it a one-point game.

After another Cavalier miss, a jumper by Smith pulled Detroit within 93-92.

Jackson hit a 3-pointer with 1:25 left and Smith countered with a pair of free throws.

A defensive mistake by Detroit allowed Murray an uncontested fastbreak dunk that gave the Cavaliers a 98-94 lead with less than one minute remaining.

"I'm not sure what happened on that one," Stackhouse said. "They made a substitution (Murray for Bimbo Coles), and I think whoever was supposed to be guarding Murray was still looking for the guy on the bench."

Murray was surprised by the ease of his game-clinching slam.

"I checked in, and (the Pistons) never matched up on defense, so I was wide open," Murray said. "All I heard was the crowd moan when they saw me. That pretty much did it. When you are making a comeback, you can't fall asleep like that."

Game notes
Pistons rookie Mateen Cleaves missed the game to be with his family after his brother was buried on Saturday. Herbert Cleaves was shot and killed in Flint, Mich., on Feb. 18. ... The Cavaliers placed Chucky Brown (ankle sprain) on the injured list before Sunday's game and activated Matt Harpring. Harpring had been out since mid-January after ankle surgery. ... The Pistons had a five-point possession in the third quarter. A clear-path foul gave Stackhouse one free throw, with the Pistons retaining the ball. Chucky Atkins hit a 3-pointer, and Stackhouse added a free throw after Robert Traylor's technical.

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