Jackson helps Pistons hold off Hornets
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Reggie Jackson made two free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining after the Detroit Pistons gave away a 19-point fourth-quarter lead, and held on for a 115-114 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday at The Palace.
Tobias Harris scored 25 points and fellow reserve Boban Marjanovic powered for 15 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for Detroit (17-21), which had lost 11 of its last 16 games. Marjanovic, a 7-foot-3 second-year center from Serbia, played a season-high 23 minutes with starter Andre Drummond in foul trouble and usual backup Aron Baynes injured. His previous high in rebounds was 13, when he played for San Antonio last season.
Jackson finished with 22 points and 11 assists, whlie Marcus Morris had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who now embark on a five-game West Coast trip. Drummond added 16 points and nine rebounds.
Kemba Walker's 32 points paced the Hornets (20-17), who have lost three of their last four outings. Walker scored 20 of Charlotte's 44 fourth-quarter points. Hornets forward Marvin Williams had 19 points and seven rebounds, while Spencer Hawes tossed in 18 points.
The Pistons led by 19 early in the fourth but the Hornets crept as close as seven points midway through the quarter.
Hawes' 3-pointer with 1:44 left made it a four-point game. Walker's 18-foot jumper with 42.7 seconds remaining made it 110-108 before Jackson answered with a jumper of his own.
Walker made a layup after a timeout and Jackson could only split two free throws with 13.2 seconds left. Hawes then tied it with an open three after a kickout pass from Marco Belinelli.
Walker fouled Jackson in the lane, and Detroit's point guard made both free throws. Morris was called for a foul on the subsequent inbounds, giving Charlotte a free throw while retaining possession. Bellinelli made the foul shot.
Jackson deflected the ball out of bounds on the inbounds, and Bellinelli's basket after he bounced the ball off Morris' back on the next inbounds play was deemed too late.
Marjanovic delighted the crowd by racking up a double-double by halftime. His 10 points and 11 rebounds lifted the Pistons to a 58-48 advantage at the break.
Harris also made a major contribution off the bench with 14 points. The Hornets hung around by drawing fouls and making their free throws, converting 21 of 24 attempts.
NOTES: Charlotte F Cody Zeller made the trip but was ruled out for the third straight game as he recovers from a concussion. .. Pistons C Aron Baynes was sidelined for the second straight game with a left ankle sprain. ... Hornets G Kemba Walker played the 400th game of his career. He is fourth on the franchise's all-time list for games played. ... Charlotte is 6-0 when Walker and G Nicolas Batum each score at least 20 points. ... Heading into Thursday's action the Hornets and Pistons were tied for fewest turnovers per game in the league (12.0 apiece). ... Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy maintains that the team's work ethic remains strong, despite its poor play over the past month. "This is far from a group that's given up the ship," he said. "The group is working hard, it's a high-character group. Everybody's frustrated because we're not playing as well as any of us thinks we're capable of playing."