Interim Pistons coach Loyer faces tough task

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — John Loyer didn’t see it coming. Neither did the players. The Detroit Pistons are in the midst of a colossally disappointing season, but no one expected Mo Cheeks to be fired 50 games into his first season as head coach, especially after two blowout victories over the weekend. Loyer, who was […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Pacers 119, Nuggets 80

INDIANAPOLIS — Forward David West scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half, and the Indiana Pacers crushed the Denver Nuggets 119-80 for their biggest win of the season Monday night. The Pacers shot 57.5 percent from the field, sinking 46 of 80 shots. Indiana (40-11) won for the 14th time in its […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Raptors 108, Pelicans 101

TORONTO — Forward Patrick Patterson scored a season-best 22 points and guard DeMar DeRozan also scored 22 as the Toronto Raptors defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 108-101 on Monday. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak by the Raptors (27-24), who also got 19 points and 12 assists from guard Kyle Lowry. Guard/forward Terrence Ross […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Pistons 109, Spurs 100

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Point guard Brandon Jennings led Detroit with 21 points and six assists, and interim Pistons coach John Loyer won his debut 109-100 over the short-handed San Antonio Spurs on Monday night at The Palace. Loyer replaced Mo Cheeks, who was fired Sunday after just 50 games as the head coach. Pistons […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Celtics heat up after halftime, blitz Bucks

MILWAUKEE — With two losses already this season to the Bucks and clinging to a slim halftime lead over Milwaukee, the Boston Celtics received a simple message from coach Brad Stevens: shoot the ball. The message was received, as the Celtics made 23 of 40 shots after the break to seal a 102-86 victory Monday […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Warriors 123, 76ers 80

OAKLAND, Calif. — Backup center Marreese Speights exploded for 17 of his career-best 32 points in the second quarter, and the Golden State Warriors eventually built a 49-point cushion en route to a 123-80 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. In recording their largest margin of the victory of the season, the Warriors […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Warriors hand 76ers another blowout loss

OAKLAND, Calif. — Coming off a 45-point drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers just 24 hours earlier, the last thing the Philadelphia 76ers needed Monday night was a surprise. Then they ran into the Golden State Warriors’ secret weapon, Marreese Speights, and the rest is unfavorable history. Getting additional playing time because […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Rockets cruise past Timberwolves, 107-89

MINNEAPOLIS — With a poise befitting a team that appears to have found itself, the Houston Rockets shook off a shaky third quarter with a dominant fourth, cruising to a 107-89 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Monday night. It was a game matching two teams going in very different directions. With […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Pistons stomp Spurs in Loyer’s coaching debut

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — John Loyer gave the Detroit Pistons some energy along the sideline in his NBA head-coaching debut. The team responded with an upbeat performance after the abrupt firing of Mo Cheeks. Point guard Brandon Jennings led Detroit with 21 points and six assists, and the Pistons posted a 109-100 win over the […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021