Rockets’ early jump tops Pistons
Detroit has dropped 7 of last 8
3/2/2014HOUSTON — Terrence Jones had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets opened a big early lead and beat the Detroit Pistons 118-110 on Saturday night for their third win in four games.
Jones finished 10 of 15 from the floor as Houston shot 50 percent for the game, including 61 percent in the first half. Houston scored 41 points in the first quarter and finished 11 of 33 from behind the arc.
James Harden added 20 points and 12 assists, Patrick Beverley had 19 points, and Dwight Howard chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds.
Rodney Stuckey had 23 points on 10 of 17 shooting off the bench, and Josh Smith added 21 points for the Pistons, who dropped their fourth straight and seventh in eight games.
Andre Drummond had 16 points and 17 rebounds, Greg Monroe had 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Brandon Jennings chipped in 11 points and eight assists for Detroit, which shot 45 percent from the field.
Trailing 102-84 with 10:33 remaining, Detroit outscored the Rockets 13-5 over the next 4:22 to cut the lead to 10 on Smith's free throws, but Beverley nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead back to 16 with four minutes remaining.
The Pistons closed within seven once more with a 10-1 run, capped by consecutive layups by Stuckey, but got no closer.
GRIZZLIES 110, CAVALIERS 96
MEMPHIS — Zach Randolph had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Memphis used a big second half to win.
Randolph had 17 points in the second half to help Memphis outscore Cleveland 56-31 and rally from an early 15-point deficit to win its fifth straight at home. Mike Conley and Marc Gasol scored 22 each for the Grizzlies. Conley added seven assists and Gasol had six.
Courtney Lee finished with 19 points and Tony Allen had 16 on 7-of-10 shooting.
Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, while Tristan Thompson was 8 of 10 for 18 points.
Spencer Hawes had 13 points and Luol Deng 11.