Backup center guides Pistons past Thunder
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Aron Baynes scored 20 points in place of injured Andre Drummond, and the Detroit Pistons remained undefeated at home with a 104-88 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday at The Palace.
Drummond, the NBA's second-leading rebounder, missed the game due to a sprained right ankle. Baynes, making his first start of the season, also grabbed eight rebounds as the Pistons (6-5) improved to 5-0 at home. The backup center wound up one point shy of tying his career high.
Forward Tobias Harris delivered a team-high 22 points and six rebounds for the Pistons, while guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contributed 17 points.
Oklahoma City (6-5) lost its fourth straight despite getting 33 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists from Russell Westbrook. Jerami Grant added 11 points off the bench.
Detroit was playing its first game at The Palace since a 1-3 West Coast trip, while the Thunder had a quick turnaround after falling at home to the Orlando Magic 119-117 on Sunday.
Baynes' three-point play early in the second half gave Detroit a 64-49 lead. Marcus Morris nudged the advantage to 17 at 68-51 with a put-back.
A Baynes layup made it 76-57 before the Thunder finally showed signs of life. They went on an 11-2 run, including 3-pointers from Grant and Victor Oladipo, to pull within 78-68 as the quarter ended.
Oklahoma City went scoreless the first 2:25 of the fourth, and the Pistons retained their double-digit lead. Caldwell-Pope provided the finishing touches with a three-point play on a behind-the-back flip and free throw with 3:06 left.
Westbrook was averaging 17.3 points in 14 career games against Detroit, his lowest output against any opponent. He had 25 points by halftime, but the Pistons shot 48.9 percent and raced to a 59-47 lead.
Detroit outscored Oklahoma City 31-22 in the second quarter. Harris scored 10 of those points, including a jumper that capped off a 25-8 Pistons outburst and gave them their biggest lead of the half at 55-37.
NOTES: Pistons C Andre Drummond missed a game because of injury for the first time since March 19, 2014, when he sat out against the Nuggets with a strained neck. An MRI on Drummond's right ankle revealed no structural damage and coach Stan Van Gundy believes Drummond will return quickly. "We should have him back for the weekend if not Wednesday (vs. the New York Knicks)," he said. ... The Pistons lost five of their previous six home games against the Thunder. ... Oklahoma City PG Russell Westbrook posted his 40th career triple-double on Sunday, second among active players behind only Cleveland F LeBron James (43). ... The Thunder topped 100 points in each of the previous three games, yet lost them all. "My bigger concern is on the defensive end of the floor and what kind of consistency can build (there)," coach Billy Donovan said.