REGGIE Jackson sparked a telling fourth quarter blast as the Detroit Pistons held on to beat the slumping Cleveland Cavaliers, 106-101, at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Thursday (Friday, Manila time).
In a game of rallies, the Pistons came up with the most pivotal run in starting the fourth quarter with a 13-0 blast to take an 86-80 lead after losing a 10-point advantage from a blistering third quarter by the Cavs.
Stanley Johnson’s triple gave Detroit a nine-point edge midway through the last quarter before LeBron James capped an 11-5 rally to cut the gap to three with 1:19 remaining. But Jackson hit a clutch jumper on the next play while Kyrie Irving’s missed triple and a charge on Richard Jefferson proved to be the killing blows for the Cavs as the Pistons hit enough free throws to hold on for the win.
The Pistons managed to storm back from a 27-12 deficit in the first quarter with a 16-3 run bridging the middle quarters to take their first taste of the lead, 61-55, early in the third. But a 17-1 counter by the Cavs put them back on top and even led by as much as seven entering the fourth period.
Jackson led the Pistons (32-33) with 21 points, while Andre Drummond had 20 markers and 16 rebounds. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tobias Harris each scored 15.
James had his 50th career triple-double with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, while Kyrie Irving had a career-best 13 straight games of scoring at least 20 with 27 markers. Still, the Cavs lost their third in a row and fell to 42-21. Channing Frye hit five treys to add 15 points off the bench.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
