Mavericks 92, Pistons 77
DALLAS -- O.J. Mayo fueled a massive third-quarter run that rallied the Dallas Mavericks past the cold-shooting Detroit Pistons 92-77 Saturday night at American Airlines Center.
Mayo drilled 16 of his game-high 27 points in the third quarter when Dallas outscored Detroit, 25-11. The Mavs opened the fourth quarter with a 13-2 burst to lead 80-61 after the Pistons held a 48-42 lead at halftime. It was a much-needed win for Dallas, which had lost three in a row and on Friday acquired Derek Fisher to take over as the starting point guard for Darren Collison.
Detroit lost its second game in as many nights and dropped its 10th road game in 11 tries. The Pistons scored just 29 points in the second half, practically getting outscored by Mayo, who poured in 24.
Collison came off the bench for the second time this season and played with a sprained right middle finger. He scored just five points, but assisted on eight baskets. Fisher, 38, played in his first game since Game 6 of the NBA Finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played 24 minutes and had two points on 1-of-8 shooting with three assists and two steals.
Mavs forward Elton Brand turned in one of his best games of the season with 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks off the bench. Vince Carter also boosted the Dallas bench with 12 points and five assists. Chris Kaman had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Detroit second-year guard Brandon Knight hit for 18 of his team-high 20 points in the first half. Nobody caught fire for the Pistons in a bewildering second half that led to Detroit shooting just 34.1 percent from the floor. Kyle Singler and Tayshaun Prince both finished with 12 points.
NOTES: Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said the NBA was right to fine the Spurs $250,000 for sending four players, including stars Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, home prior to Thursday's TNT game against Miami because the league has to protect its network partners. ... Dallas released forward Troy Murphy on Friday to make to add Fisher, forcing the Mavs to go with a smaller lineup. Rookie Jae Crowder started Saturday at small forward with Shawn Marion at power forward. ... The Pistons were trying to end a four-game losing streak at Dallas.
