Morris scores 37 as Pistons top Blazers in OT
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Marcus Morris poured in a career-high 37 points, including seven in overtime, and the Detroit Pistons downed the Portland Trail Blazers 120-113 on Tuesday night at The Palace.
Morris, who also contributed eight rebounds and six assists, topped his previous best of 36 points, set against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 3.
Andre Drummond had 19 points and 15 rebounds for Detroit (29-31). Kentavious Caldwell-Pope supplied 16 points, Ish Smith added 12 points, seven steals and seven assists, and Tobias Harris chipped in 11 points for the Pistons.
Damian Lillard fell one assist shy of his first career triple-double for Portland. He finished with 34 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
CJ McCollum had 25 points, Jusuf Nurkic contributed 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Allen Crabbe tossed in 13 points for the Blazers (24-35). Portland lost for the fifth time in six games.
Morris' three-point play with 3:18 left in overtime gave Detroit a 114-111 lead. He followed with another jumper, establishing his career high.
Smith's midrange jumper gave the Pistons a seven-point lead with 1:39 remaining.
Nurkic's layup with 4:15 left in the third quarter gave Portland a 75-62 lead. Morris then sparked a 13-4 Pistons run to end the period, pulling Detroit within 79-75. He scored six of his 15 third-quarter points during that span.
Smith's pullup jumper in the opening minute of the fourth tied it at 79-all. Following the Blazers' 18th turnover, Smith canned two free throws with 8:15 left to give Detroit its first lead since it was 2-0 at 87-85.
When Drummond dunked with 4:50 left, the Pistons were up 102-94. The Blazers then responded with a 13-3 run.
Lillard hit two free throws with 2:19 left to tie it at 105-all. Nurkic made two free throws with 1:46 remaining after a loose ball foul on Morris, moving Portland back on top.
The lead changed hands again on buckets by Morris and Caldwell-Pope.
Caldwell-Pope missed a bank shot in the closing seconds, then received a technical with 10.7 seconds left. Lillard missed the free throw, but Portland retained possession.
Lillard's driving layup with 2.8 seconds left knotted the score at 109. Morris then missed a fadeaway, sending the game to overtime.
McCollum scored 13 first-half points as Portland led 49-44 at halftime.
NOTES: Blazers C Jusuf Nurkic was playing his fourth game since being traded from the Nuggets. "He's a big, physical center for us," coach Terry Stotts said. "The biggest thing is he's made an impression at both ends of the floor. The transition has been pretty smooth for him." ... The Pistons swept the season series for the second straight year, the first time they completed back-to-back sweeps against Portland in franchise history. ... Pistons C Andre Drummond now has 220 double-doubles since the 2012-13 season, the most in the NBA. ... Portland SF Evan Turner missed his sixth consecutive game after fracturing his right hand. ... PF Henry Ellenson and SG Darrun Hilliard were Detroit's inactives.