Pair of youngster pace Pistons' rally, overtime victory over Sixers
-- On a day when news surfaced about a potential three-team trade that could ship a veteran out of town, two pieces of the Pistons' future made their cases to stick around.
For at least one overtime period Saturday, Austin Daye and Greg Monroe took attention away from Richard Hamilton's uncertain future, pacing Detroit past the Sixers 112-109.
Daye, who finished with 15 points, was glad he could show team president Joe Dumars he and Monroe are a good investment, especially when the game is on the line.
"It really looks good," Daye said of the duo's potential. "But hopefully it looks good for Joe D since he's the one that drafted us." Monroe had 16 points, 13 rebounds and a pair of free throws near the two-minute mark that gave the Pistons a seven-point lead.
The outing was quite the contrast from Monroe's effort earlier this season, which cost him extended time on the bench for a few games. He played nearly 31 minutes against the Sixers.
"Use everything as a learning experience," he said of his goals. "Every possession, every game, every practice."
Former Ohio State standout Evan Turner led Philadelphia with 19 points and Elton Brand added 17 on a night that featured 12 lead changes and nine ties.
Detroit trailed by as much as nine in regulation and appeared headed to their 25th loss when Ben Wallace was slapped with a technical foul.
Wallace argued with an official he was fouled during a layup attempt with 2:05 left in regulation. The ensuing technical led to a pair of Lou Williams free throws for a 93-90 Sixers lead.
Tayshaun Prince helped rescue Detroit with two straight jump shots and a drive in the lane before a Daye's 3-pointer sent it to overtime.
Prince led all scorers with 23.
Pistons coach John Kuester has tinkered with his lineup and rotation all season and saw some initiative in Daye, Monroe and Prince late in the contest that helped set the tone.
"We just never gave up," Kuester said. "Guys helped each other."Daye opened overtime with a 3-pointer in nearly the exactly same left corner as his regulation trey and extended the lead to five at the 2:37 mark with a dunk in transition.
The Sixers didn't score a field goal until a Williams jumper in the lane at the 1:08 mark.
Jodie Meeks' 3-pointer cut Detroit's lead to 110-109 with 7.5 seconds left, before Rodney Stuckey made a pair of free throws with 6.6 seconds left.
Stuckey finished with 20.
Jan. 9, 2011
