Drummond’s tip in saves Pistons
91. 89. Final. 92. 64
It took two missed free throws from Jerryd Bayless and a tip in by Andre Drummond with 2.1 seconds left, but the Detroit Pistons came away with the 92-91 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Pistons have to feel like they stole one tonight. The Bucks came out and set the tone with an impressive first quarter, playing sound basketball on both ends of the floor, while the Pistons struggled to make shots and defend the size and length of the Bucks front line. The Pistons hung with it throughout the game, though, and really clamped down in defense on the fourth quarter. Thanks to Andre Drummond’s heroics in the final seconds, the Pistons came away with their third straight win. Maybe, just maybe this will spark the Pistons and start an end-of-the-season surge into the playoffs.
Reggie was quiet tonight, scoring just nine points on 3-8 shooting in 28 minutes. I don’t know if he is still feeling under the weather, or if he just recognized that he didn’t have it offensively tonight, but he didn’t force the issue. He also added five rebounds and five assists, and had some clutch baskets down the stretch.. PG. Pistons. REGGIE JACKSON. C-
C-. KCP struggled on both ends of the floor tonight. He scored 15 points, but shot just 6-18 from the floor including 2-11 from three. He also struggled staying with Khris Middleton, who went off for a game high 27 points on 11-16 shooting. In KCP’s defense, the Bucks were screening him like crazy to get Middleton open, and when he was able to stay with him Middleton was knocking down some difficult shots.. SG. Pistons. KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE
A. Marcus was by far the Pistons’ best player tonight. He had an unbelievably efficient 21 points on 8-9 shooting, including 4-4 from beyond the arc. It was frustrating that the Pistons did not make more of an effort to get him open looks. Marcus also added four assists and three rebounds in 37 minutes.. SF. Pistons. MARCUS MORRIS
Pistons. TOBIAS HARRIS. C+. Tobias struggled offensively tonight, scoring just 13 points on 4-12 shooting, but he had a great sequence in the fourth quarter where he battled for an offensive rebound, got a put back layup and drew a foul. His effort cut the Bucks lead to four and sparked the Pistons as they entered the final stretch of the game. He also knocked down a couple of clutch free throws in the final minute to get the Pistons within one.. PF
Pistons. ANDRE DRUMMOND. B+. Andre’s energy was great to start the game. You could tell he was pumped up to go against his former front court mate Greg Monroe, and he may have been a little too excited at times which led to some forced shots early on. Despite giving up 18 and 10 to Monroe, Drummond had a nice line with 14 points and 16 rebounds, and, oh yeah, he won the game for the Pistons with his clutch tip in.. C
D. Stanley had a couple nice steals that led to fast break baskets, but for the most part he was nonexistent tonight. He scored just four points on 1-6 shooting and had five turnovers in 16 minutes. It was disappointing that he was unable to build on his impressive performance on Saturday night.. SF. Pistons. STANLEY JOHNSON
C. Baynes was solid on the boards tonight, grabbing five rebounds in his 15 minutes, but he struggled to make shots and missed some good looks in the post. He finished with two points to go along with his five rebounds.. C. Pistons. ARON BAYNES
Tolliver really gave the Pistons a boost off the bench tonight, and he did it just when they needed it. He knocked down two three pointers in the second quarter while the offense was struggling, and another one in a similar situation in the third quarter. He shot just 4-9 from the field, but his makes were important ones.. PF. Pistons. ANTHONY TOLLIVER. B
B-. Blake did a good job playing his role as game manager tonight. He finished with three points, four assists and zero turnovers in 20 minutes. . PG. Pistons. STEVE BLAKE
Pistons. STAN VAN GUNDY. B-. Coach Van Gundy has to be pleased with the way his team battled tonight. Shots weren’t falling early, and the game looked like it was going to get out of hand in the second quarter, but he was able to keep everybody engaged. I would have liked to see him draw up some more plays for Marcus Morris, who was terrific tonight.. Head Coach