Advertisement

Pistons barely avoid collapse, defeat Knicks

 
Published Feb. 5, 2016

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. —Anthony Tolliver and Reggie Jackson made a trio of big 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter, and the Pistons avoided a colossal collapse, beating the Knicks 111-105 Thursday night.

The Knicks rallied from a 27-point second-quarter deficit, taking a 97-95 lead on a layup by Robin Lopez. Tolliver's 3-pointer put the Pistons back ahead, and Jackson added another to make it 101-97.

After a dunk by Lopez cut the margin back to two, Jackson added another 3-pointer, and the Pistons held on.

Jackson finished with 21 points, and Stanley Johnson added 22 and nine rebounds. Andre Drummond had 17 points and 13 rebounds for Detroit.

Lopez had 26 points and 16 rebounds.

Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points for New York, which lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Johnson, Detroit's first-round draft pick last year, made his second start of the season because Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was out with a core muscle strain. He is out at least until the All-Star break.

The Knicks started the game shooting 1-of-10 from the field and trailed 12-2 — with Detroit's first 12 points all coming from 3-point range. The Pistons led by 12 after one and began the second quarter with a 21-6 run, taking a 48-21 lead on a dunk by Aron Baynes.

Anthony made a free throw with four seconds left in the first half, then the Knicks let Brandon Jennings get free for a long pass, and his layup made it 60-36.

Arron Afflalo finished with 24 points for the Knicks.

Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis scored five on 2-of-9 shooting.

Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sat out with a right groin strain, ending his consecutive games streak — the second-longest active one in the league — at 208.

While on the bench, the Pistons wore red shirts that said "FLINTNOW" as part of a relief effort launched by owner Tom Gores. A Flint native, Gores has pledged to raise $10 million to address the water crisis there. Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and Antonio Smith — three former Michigan State players from Flint — took part in the ceremonial pregame ball presentation.

all-star contests: Magic forward Aaron Gordon will participate in the All-Star dunk contest Feb. 13 in Toronto. He will compete against defending champion Zach LaVine of the Timberwolves, Will Barton of the Nuggets and Andre Drummond of the Pistons. The 3-point contest competitors: Kyle Lowry, Raptors; Khris Middleton, Bucks; Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Warriors; Devin Booker, Suns; J.J. Redick, Clippers; Chris Bosh, Heat; and James Harden, Rockets.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Spurs guard Manu Ginobili is out for at least a month after surgery for a testicle injury. On Wednesday Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson spun and hit Ginoboli in the groin with his right knee. … Former All-Star forward Jayson Williams was charged with driving while intoxicated after he crashed into a utility pole in the rural town of Delaware, 95 miles northwest of New York. Williams, 47, retired from the Nets in 1999.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Pistons 111, Knicks 105

NEW YORK (105): C.Anthony 4-18 10-14 19, Porzingis 2-9 0-0 5, Lopez 11-14 4-4 26, Calderon 0-3 0-0 0, Afflalo 8-15 7-8 24, Thomas 2-6 4-4 9, Galloway 7-9 1-2 17, Vujacic 1-6 0-0 2, Williams 1-3 1-2 3, O'Quinn 0-1 0-0 0, Grant 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-84 27-34 105.

DETROIT (111): Morris 5-12 2-2 13, Ilyasova 4-9 2-2 12, Drummond 7-12 3-9 17, Jackson 6-16 6-10 21, Johnson 7-12 7-8 22, Hilliard 3-4 0-0 6, Jennings 4-6 2-2 11, Tolliver 1-1 0-0 3, Baynes 3-7 0-0 6. Totals 40-79 22-33 111.

New York 15 21 35 34— 105

Detroit 27 33 18 33— 111

3-Point GoalsNew York 6-22 (Galloway 2-2, Thomas 1-2, Porzingis 1-4, C.Anthony 1-5, Afflalo 1-5, Williams 0-1, Calderon 0-1, Vujacic 0-2), Detroit 9-17 (Jackson 3-5, Ilyasova 2-5, Tolliver 1-1, Johnson 1-2, Morris 1-2, Jennings 1-2). Fouled OutGalloway. ReboundsNew York 54 (Lopez 16), Detroit 51 (Drummond 13). AssistsNew York 20 (C.Anthony 8), Detroit 17 (Johnson, Jackson 5). Total FoulsNew York 25, Detroit 22. TechnicalsMorris. Flagrant Fouls—Thomas. A17,095 (22,076).