Knicks 124, Pistons 106
NEW YORK (AP) Ben Gordon made seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 35 points for the Pistons but it wasn't enough for the Pistons as they fall to the New York Knicks 124-106 in New York on Sunday night.
The Pistons have now lost three in a row.
Amare Stoudemire scored 33 points despite a sprained right knee, rookie Timofey Mozgov had career highs of 23 points and 14 rebounds in his first appearance in three weeks.
Rookie Greg Monroe had 15 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons.
Danilo Gallinari added 29 points for the Knicks, who seized control early in the fourth quarter after it was tied through three. He made two 3-pointers in a decisive 12-2 burst to open the final period and New York went on to win for the third time in four games.
The Knicks were without starting forward Wilson Chandler (sore left calf) and key reserve Shawne Williams, who was suspended for throwing a punch in Atlanta on Friday night. Ronny Turiaf started but was quickly in foul trouble, forcing coach Mike D'Antoni to go deep down his bench to Mozgov, the starting center early in the season before falling out of the rotation entirely.
In his first appearance since Jan. 9, the Russian played 40 minutes, rebounding from a shaky start, and was treated to loud ``Mozgov! Mozgov! chants in the final minute.
Gallinari opened the fourth with a tie breaking 3-pointer that gave the Knicks the lead for good, then Mozgov slammed home a follow dunk. Gallinari added another 3 before Raymond Felton's bucket capped the run and made it 103-93.
The Knicks wanted to play fast, with the ``pace'' written all over their locker room board. But Detroit had no problem keeping up, shooting 60 percent in the first quarter and staying there until a little more than 2 minutes remaining in the half.
Charlie Villanueva's 11 points in the second quarter included two 3-pointers in the final 47 seconds as Detroit took a 62-60 halftime lead.
Gordon, who grew up in nearby Mount Vernon, N.Y., was a Big East tournament MVP award while playing for Connecticut and earned the nickname ``Madison Square Gordon'' for his big moments here, scored 16 in the third quarter before Stoudemire's follow dunk with 1 second remaining tied it at 91.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
