New York Knicks' Nate Robinson reacts after hitting a three-point shot during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Monday, January 18, 2010, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP)

NEW YORK, January 18, 2010 (AFP) - Nate Robinson made his name with spectacular dunks but he showed he's no slouch when it comes to the long ball either.

The 25-year-old American sank 5-of-9 three-pointers and finished with 27 points, as the New York Knicks outlasted Detroit 99-91 in the second half of a home-and-home series.

Wilson Chandler had 17 points, while David Lee added 15 rebounds and 11 points for New York, which lost to the Pistons on Saturday.

This marked New York's second win in their last six games.

"Before the game we just talked about winning, by any means necessary," said Robinson, who announced Monday he would attempt to become the first three-time winner of the NBA Slam Dunk contest during all-star weekend next month.

"So our whole aspect was to just come out play hard and win. Even if it was an ugly win, we just had to get the job done."

Robinson first won the slam dunk competition in 2006 and captured it again in 2009.

Rodney Stuckey had 22 points for Detroit, who had won three straight heading into Monday's contest. Ben Wallace finished with a season-high 16 points to go with 14 rebounds.

"He played extremely well," Pistons head coach John Kuester said of Wallace. "He's competed the entire season. He did a great job on the boards. We needed other people to step up and we didn't get the production in certain situations."