Pistons Set Season High For Points In 136-106 Rout Of 76ers
AARON BRACY
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 13 of his 26 points in Detroit's dominating third quarter, and the Pistons set a season high for points while rolling to a 136-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
The Pistons, holding the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, had lost two of three, including Wednesday's 109-86 drubbing at New Orleans that resulted in coach Stan Van Gundy calling out point guard Reggie Jackson.
Van Gundy told reporters Friday that he wanted to see Jackson play with more energy and contemplated starting backup point guard Ish Smith over Jackson on Saturday. Jackson, though, did make the start and scored 21 points.
Marcus Morris scored 22 points, Tobias Harris added 20 and Andre Drummond had 14 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and three blocks, one game after getting ejected for swatting the Pelicans' Tim Frazier in the back of the head.
Detroit shot a season-best 56.8 percent, making 54 of 95 field goals.
Already short-handed due to the loss of Joel Embiid (knee) for the season, not to mention the absence of No. 1 pick Ben Simmons (foot) all season, Philadelphia was without center Jahlil Okafor (right knee soreness) while playing the second game of a back-to-back set. Nik Stauskas had 24 points.
The Pistons put the game out of reach in the third quarter when they scored 39 points, the most they've scored in a third quarter this season, to expand their 67-52 halftime advantage to 106-82 entering the fourth.
Detroit led by as many as 30 points in the period and made 17 of 28 field goals, including 4 of 9 3-pointers. Drummond had eight points and six rebounds in the period.
Philadelphia was playing one night after a 105-102 home win over the Knicks. Justin Anderson tied his career high with 19 points and drew accolades for his defense on New York star Carmelo Anthony, who was 5 for 18 from the field. Anderson had five points against the Pistons.
The Pistons pulled away with a 19-4 run over the final 4:19 of the first half that broke a 48-all tie and gave Detroit a 15-point halftime lead. Smith had four points and three assists during the spurt, capping it with a high floater with 1.3 seconds left.
Smith, who played in 50 games for the 76ers last season, finished with 11 points and 13 assists.
TIP-INS
Pistons: After setting an NBA mark for futility by a team attempting 10 free throws with a 3-for-17 performance from the foul line on Wednesday, the Pistons were 18 for 21 from the line against Philadelphia. . Smith started the first 21 games of the season in place of the injured Jackson (knee). . Detroit's previous scoring high was 125 in a 125-124 win at Portland on Jan. 7.
76ers: Gerald Henderson (hip) missed his second straight game. . Philadelphia's 15 first-half turnovers equaled the most in any half this season.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Host Bulls on Monday night.
76ers: Complete three-game homestand on Monday night against Milwaukee.
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