Los Angeles  - Hot-head Rasheed Wallace lost his cool, and the struggling Detroit Pistons lost another game.

David West scored 30 points, including a pair of free throws with 6.7 seconds left, and the New Orleans Hornets handed the Pistons their eighth straight defeat, 90-87 on Wednesday night.

"I knew it was going to be a tight game all the way," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "I'm glad we made some big plays in the end and got the stops when we needed."

Chris Paul had 20 points with 13 assists for host New Orleans (34-22). Peja Stojakovic also scored 20, while Tyson Chandler pulled down 17 rebounds

Richard Hamilton tossed in 24 points for the Pistons, (27-29), who lost All-Star guard Allen Iverson (aggravated back strain) in the opening period en route to their longest slide since 1995.

"We're going through a tough stretch," Pistons head coach Michael Curry said. "If we can get through this struggle, manage to stay together, and start putting some wins together, then we're going to be better because of it."

Wallace, who had 16 points before being ejected, was whistled for his first technical with 8:22 left, after arguing that Sean Marks climbed over his back fighting for an offensive rebound with the game knotted at 71.

Wallace fouled West 27 seconds later. Upon heading back to the bench, the highly-volatile Piston star threw a towel at the direction of the referee, and was hit with his second "T", resulting in an automatic ejection.

Due to his 16th technical foul of the season, Wallace will miss Friday's game at Orlando because of league rules.

"Sheed thought he should have gotten an over-the-back call," Curry said. "I thought it was over-the-back, but we didn't get it."

Despite Wallace's ejection, the Pistons didn't let it affect their desire to end the slide.

With the Hornets clinging to an 88-87 lead. Paul missed two runners in the lane. West tipped the rebound to himself, and made both free throws after drawing a foul from Rodney Stuckey.

The Pistons had one final shot to send the game into overtime, but Argentine sharpshooter Walter Hermann missed a three-point try at the buzzer. (dpa)