National Basketball Association

Pistons hold off fourth-quarter rally, hand Knicks third straight loss

Published Nov. 18, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

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Rodney Stuckey scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, and the Detroit Pistons beat the New York Knicks for the first time in the last eight meetings, 92-86 on Tuesday night.

Josh Smith added 19 points for the Pistons, who led 71-63 after three quarters and scored the first seven points of the fourth. New York cut the lead to four in the final minute, but the Knicks could never reduce the deficit to one possession.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 25 points.

Greg Monroe had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Detroit, and Andre Drummond added 13 points and 11 boards.

New York guard Raymond Felton missed the game because of an injured lower back and left hip area. Beno Udrih started at guard, his first start of the season. Kenyon Martin also got his first start of 2013-14 for the Knicks, giving them some size against Detroit's big front line. New York is already without Tyson Chandler because of a broken leg.

Neither team led by more than six in the first half. The Pistons were ahead 55-54 before going on a 7-0 run in the third quarter. Smith made a 3-pointer, and Anthony was called for a technical foul moments later - after he apparently thought he was fouled on a missed shot.

Stuckey made the free throw, and a 3-pointer by Kyle Singler made it 62-54.

Stuckey started the fourth quarter with a fadeaway, and after Amare Stoudemire was called for a technical, Stuckey's free throw pushed the lead to 11. Stuckey added a 17-footer, and Drummond's dunk made it 78-63.

The Knicks began their rally with seven straight points to cut the deficit back to single digits.

It was Detroit's first win over the Knicks since March 18, 2011, when the Pistons beat New York 99-95. The Knicks now have lost their last three games and four of their last five.

NOTES: Detroit was short-handed too, with guards Chauncey Billups (knee tendinitis) and Will Bynum (sore left hamstring) both out. ... New York F Metta World Peace missed the game with a sore left knee. It was nine years to the day after he was involved in an infamous brawl in a game at Detroit while a member of the Indiana Pacers. ... Drummond shot an airball on a free throw late in the second quarter.