Pistons Come From 21 Down To Beat Knicks
By Brian Mahoney
NEW YORK (AP) — Tobias Harris scored 22 of his 31 points in the second half, and the Detroit Pistons erased a 21-point deficit to beat the New York Knicks 111-107 on Saturday night.
Harris was one of the many Pistons who had little going to start the Pistons' second game in two nights, but they turned it around after halftime to spoil the Knicks' home opener.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 33 points, but New York fell to 0-2 after losing to former Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and Oklahoma City in its opener.
Andre Drummond had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost 115-111 in Washington on Friday night and seemed to have little energy left early Saturday.
But they were solid down the stretch, getting the tiebreaking three-point play from Reggie Jackson with 1:41 remaining. He closed it out four free throws in the final eight seconds and finished with 16 points.
Enes Kanter had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who played without rookie Frank Ntilikina, the No. 8 pick from France who sprained his left ankle in practice Friday after playing just 7 1/2 minutes in the season opener.
The Knicks led 28-19 after one and quickly pushed it into double figures in the second, with the lead reaching 20 when Porzingis hit his second straight 3-pointer. It grew to 57-36 on Kanter's three-point play, and New York took a 64-51 advantage into halftime.
But Detroit outscored New York 28-16 in the third to trim the deficit to one point, then grabbed an 81-80 lead when Harris made a jumper for the first basket of the fourth.
TIP-INS
Pistons: Drummond had his 230th double-double since entering the league in 2012-13, trying Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins for most in the NBA during that span. ... The Pistons had lost their last four games in New York.
Knicks: Kyle O'Quinn scored 15 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14. ... Center Willy Hernangomez, an All-Rookie selection last season, didn't play.
FRUSTRATED FRANK
Ntilikina has battled injuries since not long after former team president Phil Jackson took him in the draft. Ntilikina was then hurt playing in France and sat out summer league, and played little in the preseason. His latest injury came when he rolled his ankle when the Knicks were playing 4-on-4 at their practice facility, and coach Jeff Hornacek said it was easy to see the frustration in Ntilikina's face knowing he was hurt again. Hornacek said the guard did some running Saturday and was OK going forward and backward but it was painful to go side to side.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Host Philadelphia on Monday night.
Knicks: Visit Boston on Tuesday night.
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