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Pistons 111, Nets 95
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Point guard Brandon Jennings had 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 111-95 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night at The Palace.
Forward Josh Smith also approached a triple-double with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as six Detroit players reached double figures. Swingman Kyle Singler contributed 16 points for the Pistons (20-29), who opened a five-game homestand with a resounding victory following two road losses.
Center Andre Drummond notched his Eastern Conference-leading 37th double-double with 16 points and a career-high 22 rebounds. Drummond matched Greg Monroe’s season total last season for the most Pistons double-doubles since the 2003-04 season.
Reserve guard Jason Terry’s season-high 18 points led the Nets (22-26), who had won two straight including a home victory over San Antonio on Thursday. Guard Joe Johnson added 16 points.
The Pistons had four players in double figures by halftime as they opened up a 67-44 lead. Smith had a huge first half, racking up 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. He also initiated a rare five-point trip when he dunked after a Nets turnover and was flagrantly fouled by forward Mirza Teletovic.
Smith made the free throw and, after Detroit retained possession, Drummond dunked. That gave Detroit its first 20-point lead at 37-17. The advantage grew to 57-33 on a Smith three-point play.
Jennings scored 13 points during the third, as the Pistons led by as much as 29. Detroit only scored 15 points in the fourth but had enough of a cushion to maintain a comfortable lead.
NOTES: Nets F/C Kevin Garnett was rested on the second night of a back-to-back. The 19-year veteran has missed six games this season. … Pistons C Josh Harrellson (2.9 ppg) has a small tear of the meniscus in his left knee, an MRI revealed Friday. Harrellson, who has missed the last three games, will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break. … Nets coach Jason Kidd has used 19 lineups this season and 12 different players as starters. … SG Rodney Stuckey’s 14.0 points per game off the bench is the highest by a Pistons reserve since Vinnie Johnson averaged 15.6 ppg during the 1986-87 season. … Brooklyn had a 13-0 record when holding opponents below 95 points. … The teams complete the four-game season series at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center on April 4. … Pistons PG Chauncey Billups started the second quarter, his first appearance in 12 games. Billups, who rejoined the Pistons as a free agent during the summer after the club traded him in 2008, has played in just 19 games this season. … The Pistons’ 67 first-half points were three shy of their season high. They scored 70 by halftime against Philadelphia on Dec. 1.
