Pistons Crush Warriors, 113-95, On Ben Wallace Jersey Retirement Night
NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer
AUBURN HILLS (AP) — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope held his own against Stephen Curry for most of the night, scoring 20 points as the Detroit Pistons handed the Golden State Warriors their second loss in three games, 113-95 on Saturday.
Much of the pregame talk centered around how well Caldwell-Pope might be able to defend Curry. The Golden State star scored 38 points, but Caldwell-Pope gave the Pistons a boost offensively. The Warriors (37-4) reached the midway point of the regular season a win short of the best 41-game start in NBA history. The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers and 1995-96 Chicago Bulls started 38-3.
Detroit retired Ben Wallace's No. 3 jersey at halftime, and by that time the Pistons led 65-49 on a raucous night at the Palace.
[MORE: Pistons Retire Ben Wallace's No. 3 To The Palace Rafters [VIDEO]]
Curry scored 16 points in the third, but the Warriors still trailed by 11 at the end of period. Then Detroit started the fourth on a 16-2 run to lead 101-76.
Golden State was whistled for three technical fouls. Curry and Draymond Green were hit with technicals late in the second quarter, and interim coach Luke Walton was called for one in the fourth after a dunk by Detroit's Andre Drummond. The technical free throw by Stanley Johnson made it 94-74.
Drummond had 14 points and 21 rebounds, and Reggie Jackson scored 20 points for Detroit. The Pistons had six players in double figures, while Golden State had only three. Klay Thompson scored 24 points for the Warriors.
Golden State's Andre Iguodala went scoreless, and Green had five points on 1-of-7 shooting.
The Pistons took an early 10-point lead, and the crowd gave Wallace a standing ovation during a timeout. Golden State rallied to take a 30-27 lead after the first quarter, but with Drummond in foul trouble, backup center Aron Baynes gave Detroit a lift.
Baynes scored 12 points in the second, making all six of his shot attempts.
Caldwell-Pope outscored Curry 16-15 in the first half.
TIP-INS
Warriors: Harrison Barnes was in the starting lineup for the first time since returning nearly two weeks ago from a sprained left ankle. He scored five points on 2-of-11 shooting. ... Golden State shot 37 percent from the field, its lowest output of the season. The Warriors shot 39 percent at Boston on Dec. 11.
Pistons: Brandon Jennings left with a jammed left ankle.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Play at Cleveland on Monday night in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.
Pistons: Host Chicago on Monday.
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