Pistons routed in New York for third straight loss
NEW YORK (AP) -- Facing the NBA's leading rebounder, the New York Knicks knew they would need a "big" effort to try and snap a four-game losing streak. And, that's just what they received.
Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points, Derrick Williams added 18 and the Knicks held Andre Drummond to only nine boards in defeating the Detroit Pistons 108-96 on Tuesday night.
Drummond had double-digit rebounds in nine consecutive games and in 14 of his previous 15.
"We wanted to throw multiple bodies at him (Drummond), keep him off the offensive glass," Williams said. "That was a big part of the game plan ... get him frustrated and close out the shooters."
The Knicks received big contributions both offensively and defensively. Jose Calderon (15), Kyle O'Quinn (12), Robin Lopez (11), and Kristaps Porzingis (10) also scored in double figures while Lopez blocked a season-high six shots and led the Knicks with seven rebounds.
"Lopez blocked six shots. You know why? He played hard. Robin Lopez was a major factor in this game," said Pistons Coach Stan Van Gundy. "Give the Knicks credit. They played a lot harder than we did."
Ersan Ilyasova led the Pistons with 19 points. Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson each scored 17. Jackson added nine assists.
The Knicks led by only four points early in the fourth quarter, but went on a 25-11 run to take an 18-point lead on Williams' long jumper with 1:42 left in the game.
Williams scored 16 of his points in the final quarter, hitting 5-of-6 shots from the field.
"It was fourth-quarter time. I just wanted to be aggressive," Williams said. "That's what I do best, attacking and creating mismatches."
Morris had the first basket of the game and the Pistons never trailed in the opening quarter, taking a 20-13 lead on his two free throws with 5:08 left.
Trailing 26-25 after one period, the Knicks took their first lead, 29-28, on Kyle O'Quinn's layup with 10:10 remaining in the second. That sparked a 9-0 Knicks run which O'Quinn continued with another short basket followed by Lance Thomas' 3-pointer and two free throws by Williams to give New York a 36-28 advantage.
"After those first six minutes, I thought the first group re-established the way you are supposed to play to have a chance to win," said Knicks coach Derek Fisher. "It was good to see we put two halves of that together."
Detroit closed the gap and pulled within 50-49 at halftime.
The Knicks started the third quarter on a 15-5 run and took an 11-point lead on Anthony's jumper with 7:37 left.
However, the Pistons scored the next nine points to close the gap to two. Calderon ended the run with a long jumper and the Knicks went back up by eight before settling for a 79-72 lead after three quarters.
The Pistons pulled to within four on Stanley Johnson's layup with 10:38 left in the game, but that was as close as they got in suffering their third straight loss.
"I'm tired of losing. Tired of watching fans walk out of here up 15, going home excited about a win," Jackson said. "We can't continue to watch ourselves sink."
TIP-INS
Pistons: Detroit had won two straight games at Madison Square Garden. ... The Pistons, who outrebounded the Knicks 39-36, are now 15-6 when outrebounding their opponents and only 2-9 when their opponents equal or outrebound them.
Knicks: The Knicks have lost as many as four straight games three times this season. ... New York is 11-2 in games in which they've scored at least 100 points.
BACK IN ACTION
Brandon Jennings made his first appearance of the season for the Pistons, scoring seven points and adding four assists in 16 minutes off the bench. He had ruptured his left Achilles last January. "I was just trying to find guys and run the show. I definitely had fun."
BLOCK PARTY
Robin Lopez's six blocks were one below his career high set on February 25, 2014 against the Denver Nuggets while he was a member of the Portland Trailblazers.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Detroit hosts Minnesota on Thursday.
Knicks: New York plays at Chicago on Friday.
