Pistons 99, Nets 92
Greg Monroe collected 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Detroit
Pistons secured their first three-game winning streak of the season with
a 99-92 victory over the host New Jersey Nets on Wednesday.
Jonas Jerebko chipped in 16 points and seven boards and Ben Gordon
returned after a 10-game absence due to a shoulder injury to score 14
points for the Pistons, who improve to 7-20 overall with the recent
surge.
The teams will meet again Friday at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Nets shot 34 percent in the first half and trailed by as many as
18 points in the third quarter before they began to climb back into the
game, cutting it down to 74-67 entering the fourth quarter.
Deron Williams tried to get it all back himself, capping an 8-2 run
with a four-point play to draw New Jersey within 78-77 with 8:27
remaining. A brief surge put Detroit back in control despite three more
3-pointers from Williams in the final 5:50.
Williams scored 17 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and
added seven assists for New Jersey, which fell for the fourth straight
time.