Monroe has 28 points, 14 boards and Pistons rally past Bucks 116-111 to end 3-game slide

3/31/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Detroit Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko, left, of Sweden, grabs a rebound in front of Milwaukee Bucks center Zaza Pachulia (27) during the first half.
Detroit Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko, left, of Sweden, grabs a rebound in front of Milwaukee Bucks center Zaza Pachulia (27) during the first half.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Greg Monroe had 28 points and 14 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons ended a three-game skid with a 116-111 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.

Josh Smith scored eight of his 26 points during a 12-0 fourth-quarter run that wiped out a 98-92 Bucks lead and gave the Pistons the lead for good. His 3-pointer with 1:11 to go and a subsequent dunk put the game away in the matchup of the NBA Central Division’s two worst teams.

Brandon Knight had 25 points and Ramon Sessions added 20 points and 11 assists for Milwaukee, which lost its 10th consecutive road game and dropped the season series with the Pistons 3-1.

The Bucks outscored the Pistons 13-6 in the final four minutes of the first half and took a 61-52 lead to intermission. Detroit trailed by as many as 11 points early in the third, but went on a 12-0 run to lead 73-71 with 4:45 left and trailed 82-81 heading into the fourth quarter.

Andre Drummond had 10 points and 16 boards for his Eastern Conference-best 49th double-double and Brandon Jennings added 20 points for Detroit.

The Bucks got 12 points and 13 rebounds from center Zaza Pachulia. They went almost five minutes without a field goal late in the fourth quarter as Detroit made the decisive run.

Pistons coach John Loyer was whistled for a technical foul midway through the third quarter. Two nights earlier, he was ejected from the Pistons’ 123-98 loss at lowly Philadelphia.

NOTES: Drummond and Pachulia each were assessed technical fouls in the first half for arguing calls. . The Bucks finished March 0-9 on the road. Their last win away from home was Feb. 24 at Philadelphia. . Bucks guard O.J. Mayo (right ankle) was in uniform Monday but did not play for a third straight night.