Detroit Pistons Blog – Page 53 – NBA Blog

Jennings scores 30 as Bucks beat Pistons 117-90

After Milwaukee’s reserves helped turn things around, Brandon Jennings turned the game into a rout.

Jennings scored 20 of his 30 points in the third quarter as the Bucks cruised to a 117-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.

Mike Dunleavy had 17 points and Monta Ellis added 14 for the Bucks, who rallied from a 15-point first-quarter deficit to take a 10-point lead at halftime. The Milwaukee reserves outscored Detroit’s 59-41, including 28-10 in the key second quarter.

”We got a ton of energy from our second unit to help us get back into the game – that really set the tone and got everybody’s blood going a little,” Milwaukee coach Jim Boylan said. ”And then Brandon came out and what can you say about that third quarter? Just ‘wow’.”

Jennings, considered a possibility to replace injured Boston guard Rajon Rondo at the All-Star game, certainly didn’t hurt his chances against Detroit. At one stretch in the third period, he hit four straight 3-pointers while accounting for all of the scoring during the Bucks’ 16-0 run that gave them an 85-56 lead…

Rookie Andre Drummond had 18 points and 18 rebounds for Detroit, while Greg Monroe scored 14 points. Drummond became just the second teenager to have an 18-18 game since 1985-86, joining Dwight Howard.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Rodney Stuckey benched in Pistons win over Magic

The Detroit Pistons escaped their three-game road trip with a 104-102 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday, after which the media wanted to discuss one topic, the head coach declined, and the players expressed some level of confusion over it all.

Rodney Stuckey was inactive. He was healthy and in a suit, though he was the last player to the bench in both halves.

Frank, who traditionally discloses his two inactive players at his press conference 90 minutes before the game, coyly said he hadn’t decided at that point who would be inactive.

A half-hour later, at the mandatory league-imposed time when inactives must be turned in, Stuckey’s name was on it.

Afterwards, Frank was just as coy about why.

“Just coach’s decision,” he said. “That’s as far as I’m going. I’m sorry to be evasive but that’s all I’m giving you.”

— Reported by David Mayo of Michigan Live

D-Wade scores 29, Heat beat Pistons 110-88

Dwyane Wade scored 29 points and sparked a pivotal run to help the Miami Heat earn their fourth victory in a row Friday by beating the Detroit Pistons 110-88.

The Heat got even for a loss at Detroit on Dec. 28. They improved to 18-3 at home, while the Pistons fell to 4-16 on the road.

After falling behind by nine points, the Heat outscored Detroit 26-4 during a seven-minute stretch in the second quarter to take a 60-47 lead. Wade scored 15 points during the spurt.

LeBron James had 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Heat, who shot 56 percent. Over the past two seasons, they’re 34-2 when shooting at least 50 percent.

Miami, last in the NBA in rebounds, also won the battle of the boards, 36-35.

Greg Monroe scored 31 points for the Pistons, who never got close in the second half.

One of the night’s biggest cheers came when a 50-year-old computer technician from McHenry, Ill., made a half-court shot to win $75,000 and a hug from James.

As part of a contest sponsored by James’ foundation, Michael Drysch sank a one-handed hook shot from midcourt between periods. James watched from the bench, and when the shot swished in, he happily sprinted at Drysch and embraced him, and both tumbled to the court.

— Reported by Steven Wine of the Associated Press

Knicks beat Pistons in London game

Back in London and back on the basketball court, Carmelo Anthony went right back to his winning ways.

The Knicks star was the main attraction at the O2 Arena on Thursday, five months after he helped the United States win the Olympic gold medal at the same venue.

This time, he led the New York Knicks over the Detroit Pistons, 102-87 in the third regular-season NBA game played in the British capital.

”It felt good out there,” said Anthony, who scored 18 points in the first half as the Knicks (25-13) jumped out to a big early lead. ”I definitely had some flashbacks out there. Running out there on the court, just being in the O2 Arena.” …

Amare Stoudemire added 17 points for the Knicks and J.R. Smith scored 16. Will Bynum led the Pistons with 22 points.

The Pistons were the home team at the O2 Arena, but the crowd certainly favored the Knicks and Anthony…

The crowd at the O2 cheered loudly at times, but there were stretches of silence during some portions of the game. There was even a quiet moment before the game started, though it appeared to be an accident…

Knicks fan and movie director Spike Lee made the trip to London to see his team and sat courtside as usual, wearing a blue suit with an orange tie.

— Reported by Chris Lehourites of the Associated Press

Dan Gilbert buying hotel-casino in Detroit

Rock Gaming Chairman Dan Gilbert announced Wednesday that he has acquired a majority interest of the Greektown Casino-Hotel in downtown Detroit.

Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans and the Cleveland Cavaliers owner who triggered the building of the Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland, moved his Quicken Loans headquarters to downtown Detroit. His family of companies are expected to help lead a revitalization of the city’s urban core.

— Reported by Pat Galbincea of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Jonas Jerebko getting no minutes on Pistons

Jerebko began last season as a starter and never griped when Ben Wallace, and later Jason Maxiell, stepped into the starting power forward role. Jerebko continued to play hard and was praised for energizing the second unit.

Today, that backup job belongs to Charlie Villanueva. In the last 24 games, Jerebko has appeared once, for six garbage minutes.

“Of course, I’m disappointed,” Jerebko said. “But all I can do is keep working hard and that’s what I’m doing. I feel good about what I’m doing.

“I just go into the gym every day and do the same things I always do. Just trying to get better. Do what I can control.”

— Reported by David Mayo of Michigan Live

Ben Gordon calls his time on Pistons a failure

Former Pistons guard Ben Gordon came to Detroit with images of grandeur in the summer of 2009, wanting to add to his growing resume as a bona fide scorer capable of adapting to any situation.

Of course, that didn’t happen, as the guard was unceremoniously shipped to the Charlotte Bobcats before last June’s draft for essentially cap space in the form of Corey Maggette’s expiring contract.

Gordon, 29, didn’t shy away from assessing his three years as a Piston, terming it “a failure.”

“Yeah, because when I came here, it was — is — a great, storied organization,” he said. “I had visions of going to the playoffs and things of that nature.

“We didn’t make it while I was here and that was disappointing to me. We had the talent, but for some reason we were never able to reach that goal of being one of the better teams in the East.”

— Reported by Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News

Kemba Walker leads Bobcats past Pistons in OT

It’s not quite a winning streak, but after losing 18 straight, coming out on top in two out of three games is close enough.

Kemba Walker had 20 points and seven assists, Ben Gordon scored 18 points and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Detroit Pistons 108-101 in overtime Sunday night for just their second win in 21 games.

After snapping the long losing skid with a 91-81 victory at Chicago on Monday, Charlotte lost 106-104 to Cleveland at home on Friday night.

Ramon Sessions added 15 points, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 11, and Bismack Biyombo had 10 points and 17 rebounds for the Bobcats…

Tayshaun Prince scored 21 points to lead Detroit, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Greg Monroe had 18 points, 14 rebounds and six assists and Rodney Stuckey also scored 18 points.

”They’re a team that when you score on them, they push it right back down your throat. They come at you 100 times faster than you went at them,” Pistons’ rookie center Andre Drummond said. ”That’s one of the teams that when you score, you miss a shot, you gotta get back quick or else they’re going to score on you.” …

Bobcats forward Hakim Warrick didn’t play because of flu-like symptoms and Charlotte forward/center Byron Mullens was out with a left ankle sprain. … Gordon is in his first season with Charlotte after spending the previous three with the Pistons. He averaged 12.5 points and 26.9 minutes in 52 games with Detroit last season.

— Reported by the Associated Press

NBA fines Charlie Villanueva $25,000 for flagrant foul on Isaiah Thomas

Detroit Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva has been fined $25,000 for his Flagrant Foul Two on Sacramento Kings guard Isaiah Thomas, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with four seconds remaining in the second quarter of the Pistons’ 103-97 win over the Kings at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Jan. 1.

Charlie Villanueva ejected for flagrant foul

Charlie Villanueva has been ejected from Detroit’s game against Sacramento for a flagrant foul in the second quarter.

Isaiah Thomas drove the lane and was knocked hard to the floor by Villanueva. Thomas then got up appeared to swing his right arm quickly at Villanueva.

Officials reviewed the play on video and ejected Villanueva.

— Reported by the Associated Press