Pistons Ease Past Nets, 103-89, For 3rd Straight Win
NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer
AUBURN HILLS (AP) — Andre Drummond had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons pulled away at the beginning of the fourth quarter for their third straight victory, 103-89 over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.
Reggie Jackson had 23 points and eight assists for Detroit, and Ersan Ilyasova added 19 points and 13 rebounds. The Pistons played without forward Marcus Morris, who sat out with left knee tendinitis.
Brook Lopez had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Nets, who have lost four straight.
The Pistons led by as many as 14 in the first half and were up 56-46 after two quarters. Brooklyn cut the lead to two in the third, and it looked as though this game might come down to the wire when Detroit led 72-66 after three.
The Pistons began the fourth with a 9-2 run, and a three-point play by rookie Darrun Hilliard made it 86-72. Hilliard, a second-round draft pick, scored a season-high eight points in his most extensive action so far.
Stanley Johnson, Detroit's first-round pick, started for the first time in place of Morris. Johnson had eight points on 4-of-13 shooting.
Anthony Tolliver scored 10 points for the Pistons. Donald Sloan had 15 for Brooklyn, and Joe Johnson added 14.
Brandon Jennings, who has looked sharp at times for Detroit since coming back from an Achilles tendon injury, was held scoreless.
TIP-INS
Nets: Joe Johnson surpassed Peja Stojakovic for 11th on the career list for 3-pointers. He has 1,761. ... Brooklyn had won three of its previous four on the road.
Pistons: Detroit had only three turnovers in the first half. ... The Pistons made almost as many 3-pointers (eight) as the Nets attempted (nine). ... Drummond shot 11 of 15 from the field.
UP NEXT
Nets: Host San Antonio on Monday night.
Pistons: Host San Antonio on Tuesday night.
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