Morris, Pistons cruise past 76ers
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Marcus Morris led seven Detroit players in double figures with 19 points, and the Pistons cruised past the Philadelphia 76ers 113-96 on Monday night at The Palace.
Morris, who scored a career-best 36 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Detroit's last home game, also grabbed seven rebounds and handed out three assists Monday. Pistons center Andre Drummond collected his 33rd double-double with 16 points and 17 rebounds.
Reggie Jackson had 14 points and six assists, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aron Baynes and Jon Leuer added 12 points apiece for Detroit (24-28). Ish Smith scored 11.
The Pistons scored 66 points in the paint and outrebounded the Sixers 59-41.
Jahlil Okafor's 16 points led Philadelphia (18-33). Dario Saric supplied 13 points, six rebounds and four assists off the bench, and Robert Covington tossed in 11 points.
The Sixers, who won on the Pistons' home floor 97-79 on Dec. 11, have lost four straight and six of their past seven.
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid, who has a left knee contusion, did not make the trip. He has not played the past six games.
The Pistons outscored the Sixers 31-19 during the second quarter to gain a 55-46 halftime lead. Morris led all scorers with 12 first-half points.
A 27-10 Detroit run to start the second half turned the game into a romp.
Caldwell-Pope made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions early in the third to extend the lead to 67-52. A three-point play by Morrie and a Jackson triple made it a 20-point game.
When Jackson made another long-distance shot after an ankle-breaking move to free himself from T.J. McConnell, Detroit was up 82-56. The Pistons carried an 89-67 lead into the fourth.
NOTES: Pistons SG Reggie Bullock missed the game due to an illness. ... Reports surfaced Monday that the Sixers were discussing a deal that would send PF/C Jahlil Okafor to New Orleans. Coach Brett Brown addresses the trade rumors with his players. "We talk freely. There's an open conversation with all my guys," he said. "Rumors are rampant, always. In some ways, it's an inverted compliment that people mention your name. A week-and-a-half ago, Cleveland was (reportedly) interested in T.J. McConnell." ... The Pistons have an NBA-high 11 players on the roster who have NBA Development League experience. ... The Sixers have used 20 lineups this season, in large part because 11 players have missed games due to injury or illness. ... The teams face each other once more this season at Philadelphia on March 4.