Kings at Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have recorded consecutive victories for the first time since just after Thanksgiving, and they'll attempt to keep their run going when they host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Behind 32 points and 11 rebounds from Blake Griffin, the Pistons clawed their way past the Miami Heat 98-93 on Friday to improve to 2-0 on their three-game homestand.
The victory did not come without cost, however, as star center Andre Drummond departed in the first quarter with a nasal injury after being hit in the face. "Got elbowed in the nose. Doesn't look any different but he's going to be re-evaluated in the morning," coach Dwane Casey told reporters of Drummond, the NBA's leading rebounder. The Kings recently finished up a 3-0 homestand but they've dropped five in a row on the road, including Thursday's 114-95 setback in Charlotte to begin a six-game road trip. Guard Buddy Hield scored 24 points while making 6-of-11 3-pointers in the loss, while his teammates were 5-of-22 from beyond the arc.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE KINGS (23-22): Sacramento was outscored 43-25 in the second quarter against the Hornets as the second unit struggled to keep pace. "Their role players struggled a little bit at our place, our role players struggled a little bit here," coach Dave Joerger told reporters, referencing a home win over Charlotte five days earlier. "That's generally what happens -- role players play better at home. We're playing a lot of young guys at the same time, so it's going to take a little while to figure out." The Kings also defeated the Pistons on their recent homestand, as Hield led seven players in double figures with 18 points.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (20-24): Detroit scored a season low-tying 12 points in the third quarter Friday night before bucking a trend of poor finishes by producing a 33-point fourth to steal the victory. "We knew they were going to make a run," coach Dwane Casey told reporters of the topsy-turvy second half. "It's one of our habits that we've got to break that as soon as they make a run we drop our heads, drop our shoulders, our energy level goes wrong. Winning teams, championship teams don't do that. You can't. Once that stretch was over with, we kind of got our engines back on again and it was about toughness, energy and hard play." Reggie Bullock entered the night averaging 12.2 points but he has nine straight games with at least 13 after chipping in 19 versus Miami.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Kings PG De'Aaron Fox averages 18.6 points on 50.7 percent shooting on the road, compared to 17 points on 43.7 percent at home.
2. Griffin (rest) missed the game in Sacramento on Jan. 10 but is averaging 31.3 in four games since.
3. Pistons PG Ish Smith (groin) also left Friday's game and is day-to-day.