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 Detroit trailed for most of the game, but Stuckey scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and hit a step-back jumper over Randy Foye to give the Pistons a 90-88 lead with 45 seconds to go.
Coming out of the timeout, Foye hoisted an off-balance shot early in the possession and Tayshaun Prince
-- one of only two Detroit starters to see action -- added a free throw.
Al Jefferson had 26 points and seven rebounds, but only managed 12 shots while being hounded by double- and triple-teams all night.
Foye scored 18 points, but was just 6-for-14 from the field and was outplayed by Stuckey for much of the game.
It was a demoralizing loss for the improving Timberwolves, who had won four straight at home and seven of their last 12 overall to ease the sting of a 5-34 start to the season. They led this one by 21 points in the second quarter, but relaxed with the big lead and Detroit's big guns dressed in street clothes.
Detroit started the night six games back of first-place Boston in the East and 5 1/2 ahead of third-place Orlando, making its standing as the No. 2 seed about as close to a sure thing as could be with the playoffs just nine games away.
With that in mind, president of basketball operations Joe Dumars told coach Flip Saunders that it might be a good idea to get some of his weary veteran starters some rest. So Wallace, Billups and Hamilton watched from the bench in street clothes as Stuckey, Aaron Afflalo and Walter Herrmann took over for the night.
The Timberwolves shot 68 percent in the first quarter and were cruising against the jayvee team early, using an 11-0 run from their own bench players to take a 41-20 lead with 8 minutes to play in the first half.
But the Pistons closed the half on a 14-0 run, cutting the deficit to 49-44 at the break. A 7-0 spurt in the fourth tied the game at 72.
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The Timberwolves came back with a 3-pointer by Marko Jaric and a three-point play by Ryan Gomes, but Stuckey's three-point play tied the game again and Afflalo hit two free throws to give Detroit its first lead of the game, 84-83, with 4:10 to go.
Jefferson came back with two free throws and a perfect pass out of a triple-team that ended up in a 3-pointer by Foye to put the Wolves back in front.
But Foye tried to force feed a pass to a double-covered Jefferson with 1 minute to go that Jason Maxiell stole, setting up the big shot from Stuckey.
Notes: Timberwolves coach, and former Hoosier, Randy Wittman on Indiana's decision to hire Tom Crean: "I think he'll do a good job. I know him a little bit. I think he's going to do well. A quality coach." ... Wolves rookie Corey Brewer scored 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the first quarter, but went scoreless and missed all four of his shots the rest of the way.
[Associated Press; By JON KRAWCZYNSKI]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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