| Sac |
28 |
20 |
19 |
30 |
97 |
| Det |
27 |
31 |
22 |
23 |
103 |
Date of game: 1/1/2013
|
Recap: Detroit vs. Sacramento
Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Brandon Knight posted 20 points to help Detroit hold off a Sacramento comeback in a 103-97 win.
Greg Monroe scored 18 points with 11 rebounds, Will Bynum scored 15 and Austin Daye added 13 for the Pistons, who have now won three straight for the first time this season.
"This was a big win because we had a tough schedule at the beginning of the season," said Bynum. "We were on the road a lot and lost a bunch of close games, but now that we have a home stretch we have to win these games."
DeMarcus Cousins scored 21 points and pulled down 14 rebounds and Jason Thompson had 16 and six, while Jimmer Fredette gave 14 points off the bench for the Kings, who had won three of four coming in.
"It's tough to win away from home for us right now," said Fredette. "You know, we slipped tonight but we have to get back together and come out for tomorrow's game."
Detroit held a 13-point lead going into the fourth quarter and that increased to 16 after Andre Drummond hit a free throw for an 89-73 lead with 8:19 to play.
Sacramento got back in it with nine straight points as Travis Outlaw's jumper with 6:22 to play made it an 89-82 game. Bynum stopped the surge with a 3- pointer, but another eight straight points got the Kings within two on an Outlaw free throw with 3:39 left.
After Tayshaun Prince hit a bucket, Fredette's 3-pointer made it a one-point game.
James Johnson was called for a shooting foul and Monroe made the first free throw and missed the second, but Jason Maxiell grabbed the offensive board and was fouled by Thompson, making one of two for a 96-93 lead.
Fredette countered with another jumper and Monroe and Knight each gave a free throw with Knight's making it a 98-95 game with 1:07 left.
After Fredette missed a layup, Bynum hit two from the line with 42.7 showing for a five-point advantage. Aaron Brooks then hit two free throws with 35.2 left, but Daye buried a 3-pointer at the other end to seal the win.
Detroit trailed by a point, 28-27, after one quarter, but used a 16-4 run in the second quarter to give the team a 58-48 lead at the break.
The Pistons continued to lead throughout the third quarter and held an 80-67 lead after three quarters.
Game NotesDetroit's Charlie Villanueva was ejected with four seconds left in the second
quarter after getting called for a flagrant foul on a hard forearm to the
upper body of Isaiah Thomas ... Detroit has won six of seven over Sacramento
... Detroit shot 52 percent and grabbed 44 rebounds while Sacramento made just
41.9 percent and had 37 boards ... The Pistons host Atlanta on Friday ...
Sacramento continues its four-game road trip in Cleveland on Wednesday.
