Knight Helps Bucks Beat Pistons 98-86
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Brandon Knight had 20 points and eight assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 98-86 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
O.J. Mayo, making his first start of the season, added 17 points as Milwaukee (8-7) avoided its first three-game slide of the season. Rookie Jabari Parker contributed 14 points and nine rebounds.
Detroit (3-11) has lost five in a row and eight of nine.
Andre Drummond had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, and Greg Monroe added 15 points and eight boards. Drummond was averaging 8.7 points coming into the night, but shot 11 of 15 from the floor.
Detroit guard Brandon Jennings missed his first game of the season after he hyperextended his left thumb late in Friday's 99-89 loss at Atlanta. Jennings, who spent his first four seasons with the Bucks, is averaging 16 points and 5.8 assists per game.
A basket by Zaza Pachulia gave Milwaukee its biggest lead at 87-73 with 5:46 left.
Detroit closed to 88-80 on a layup by Monroe with 4:17 to go, but the rally fizzled from there.
Pachulia grabbed an offensive rebound and nailed a jumper, and after Drummond missed a layup, Knight followed with a 3-pointer to make it 93-80 with 3:11 left.
Milwaukee put together a 12-1 run to open a 79-67 lead heading into the final period. The Bucks also closed out the first half with an 11-2 run.
TIP-INS
Pistons: Drummond's previous season high of 14 points occurred on Nov. 1 against Brooklyn. ... D.J. Augustin started in place of Jennings and had 11 points and seven assists. He also committed five turnovers. ... Detroit handed visiting Milwaukee a 98-95 loss on Nov. 7 in the only other meeting between the teams.
Bucks: In his first game since scoring a career-high 20 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo managed just two points on 1-of-13 shooting. ... John Henson sprained his left foot in the second quarter and did not return. ... Milwaukee's 121 wins against Detroit are its most against any team.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Bucks: Visit Minnesota on Wednesday.
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