Pistons' rally negates James' triple-double for Cavs
Send a link to a friend
[March 10, 2017]
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Marcus
Morris got the Detroit Pistons fired up. Reggie Jackson then heated
up in the fourth quarter to finish off a satisfying victory over the
Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jackson scored 12 of his 21 points and handed out four of his five
assists in the fourth and the Pistons overcame LeBron James' 50th
career triple-double and downed the Cavaliers 106-101 on Thursday
night at The Palace.
"He was content to make plays for other people and didn't force the
action," Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy said of Jackson. "It was a
very, very mature game on his part."
Morris ripped his teammates during a timeout late in the first
quarter after the Pistons fell behind by 15 points. Detroit
recovered to take the lead by halftime, then rallied back once again
after trailing by seven after three quarters.
"He put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'I got this,'" Van Gundy
said of his starting small forward. "He really went after guys,
challenging guys that if they didn't want to compete, just get back
in the locker room."
The profanity-laced pep talk proved to be a turning point.
"A lot of F-bombs in there. He'll have to go to church on Sunday
with me," fellow forward Tobias Harris said. "He definitely set the
tone for the team. It's no secret that right after that, the lead
started changing."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Mar/10/images/ads/current/centerforyouth_lda_COUNSELING_2017.png)
Andre Drummond powered for 20 points and 16 rebounds and Kentavious
Caldwell-Pope and Harris had 15 points apiece for the Pistons
(32-33), who have won three of their last four games.
Morris and Ish Smith each added 12 points for Detroit, which
outscored Cleveland 33-21 in the fourth quarter.
"It's probably the happiest our locker room has been all year," Van
Gundy said. "It wasn't just getting a win and beating Cleveland. It
was the way we did it. We really, really had to fight in that game."
James collected 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, with seven of
baskets coming on dunks.
Kyrie Irving supplied 27 points and Channing Frye had 15, all on
3-pointers, but Cleveland (42-21) dropped its third straight.
"In order for us to be great, we've got to be good all across the
board," Irving said. "I've got to demand more of myself, as well as
out of my teammates, but it starts in the fourth quarter. The
momentum was in their favor. It just can't happen again."
The Cavaliers are now just two games ahead of Boston for the top
spot in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland shooting guard J.R. Smith came off the bench after missing
the previous 36 games with a fractured right thumb. He was 1 of 9
from the field while scoring three points in 19 minutes.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/26/images/ads/current/ldn_business_directory_small2_2016.png)
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/031017pics/sports75.jpg)
Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) gets defended by Detroit Pistons
forward Marcus Morris (13) during the first quarter at The Palace of
Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue was back on the sideline after
missing their game against Miami on Monday because of an illness.
"In the fourth quarter, we let them go 13 for 26 from the field and
then gave up seven offensive rebounds after that," Lue said. "Those
second and fourth quarters, we have to do a better job of cleaning
that up defensively."
Frye went scoreless in the first half but caught fire after the
Pistons took their biggest lead at 68-58. Frye drained four
3-pointers as Cleveland finished the quarter on a 22-5 run.
With James resting, the Pistons roared back with a 13-0 outburst
behind Drummond and Jackson to gain an 86-80 lead. The Cavs finally
broke their scoring drought on a Deron Williams 3-pointer moments
after James returned.
Detroit continued to hold the lead and Caldwell-Pope's corner
3-pointer with 2:17 left made it 101-93. A James layup knocked
Cleveland's deficit down to three at 101-98.
Jackson then made a floater in the lane. Frye hit another 3 with 5.5
seconds remaining to make it 104-101. But Jackson sealed Detroit's
win with two free throws.
NOTES: On the same night SG J.R. Smith returned to action, SG Kyle
Korver missed his first game since being traded to the Cavaliers in
early January because of left foot soreness. "Get one back and you
lose one, but thankfully, Korver's (injury) is not as serious,"
Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. "He should be back in due time."
... The Cavaliers are the third-highest scoring team in the league
behind Golden State and Houston. They have the best records in the
league along with San Antonio. "Overall, people have shifted more in
an offensive direction," Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I'm not
sure the defenses, or at least the vast majority of defenses, have
caught up at this point." ... Detroit has now won 12 of its last 15
home games. ... Cleveland was 38-2 when tied or leading after three
quarters before Thursday's loss. ... The Pistons lead the season
series 2-1. They meet once more in the regular season on Tuesday at
Cleveland. [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Mar/10/images/ads/current/fcs_funeral_lda082613.png) |