MICHIGAN – Detroit Pistons turned things around in the second half to defeat Utah Jazz, 126-116, in the 2021-2022 NBA Season on Monday night (Tuesday in the Philippines) at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Trailing 48-61 at the half, the Pistons went on a strong run in the third quarter behind Saddiq Bey, rookie Cade Cunningham and Hamidou Diallo to snatch an 88-84 lead.
The Jazz managed to take a 96-95 lead in the fourth on a triple by Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson but the Pistons responded with shots from Cunningham and Cory Joseph for a 108-100 lead.
Utah made its last push at 107-114 late in the game but five straight points from Bey followed by outside conversions from Joseph widened Detroit’s lead to double figures.
Bey and Cunningham finished the match with 29 points apiece. Joseph and Trey Lyles came off the bench to added 16 and 14 markers, respectively, for the Pistons (9-30).
Donovan Mitchell finished with 31 points. Hassan Whiteside had double-double 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Jazz suffered its third straight defeat for 28-13 slate.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Hornets (22-19) scored a repeat win over defending champions Milwaukee Bucks (26-17) with a 103-99 beating at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
After the Bucks tied the score at 99-all on a layup by Wesley Matthews, the Hornets regained the upperhand at 101-99 with a floater from LaMelo Ball with 15 seconds left.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo then turned the ball over in the next play before Charlotte iced the victory with two free throws from Miles Bridges with three seconds left.
Terry Rozier led the Charlotte offense with 27 points, Ball added 23 markers, while Bridges and Gordon Hayward contributed 17 and 14 points, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
DETROIT 126 — Bey 29, Cunningham 29, Joseph 16, Lyles 14, Jackson 11, Diallo 10, Stewart 6, Hayes 5, Stanley 4, Lee 2.
UTAH 116 — Mitchell 31, Whiteside 21, Clarkson 16, Conley 13, Paschall 13, Bogdanovic 12, O’Neale 7, House 3, Pelle 0.
Quarterscores: 21-35, 48-61, 88-84, 126-116./PN
