Pistons 111, Cavaliers 104
CLEVELAND -- Center Andre Drummond abused the Cleveland Cavaliers with 29 points and 11 rebounds in the Detroit Pistons' 111-104 victory on Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena.
The 6-foot-11, 285-pound rookie converted 10 of 11 shots from the field, most on dunks.
The Pistons (27-52) have beaten the Cavs six consecutive times, including a 4-0 sweep this season.
Drummond and power forward Greg Monroe really did a number on the Cavs. They combined for 52 points and 19 rebounds.
In the late going, the Cavs decided to hack Drummond, a 34.4-percent foul shooter. He foiled their plan by making 9 of 17 attempts, both career highs.
With the Cavs (24-54) trailing by two points, 105-103, Cavs guard Kyrie Irving missed a long 3-pointer with about 20 seconds left. Irving finished with 27 points and nine assists in his first back-to-back since he returned from a shoulder injury.
Cavs power forward Tristan Thompson had a momentary mental lapse with 17.1 seconds remaining and his team trailing 105-103.
He fouled Rodney Stuckey in the backcourt, away from the ball. As per NBA rules, that calls for two free throws and the Pistons getting the ball at halfcourt.
Stuckey split two free throws. After the Pistons got the ball back, forward Jonas Jerebko also split two free throws for a 107-103 advantage with 16.8 seconds left.
Thompson contributed 19 points and eight rebounds, while guard Dion Waiters added 11 points and three rebounds in his first game since March 20.
Guard Will Bynum was particularly lethal in the fourth quarter with 12 of his 16 points. Stuckey added 18 points and seven assists.
The Cavaliers closed the third quarter on a 14-2 run. They led by one point, 75-74, after three quarters. Irving is starting to pick up pace. He had 10 of his 16 points in the third.
The Pistons extended their lead to 11 points, 72-61, with 3:59 left in the third. The Cavs ripped off 10 unanswered points to get back in the game.
Drummond had 19 points and eight rebounds after three quarters. He converted 9 of 10 from the field.
Monroe was also active with 16 points and seven rebounds.
The Pistons continued their torrid shooting in the second quarter. They were shooting 55 percent from the field in the first half, as they held onto a 53-49 advantage.
Stuckey had a game-high 14 points and five assists at halftime.
The Cavs got a nice contribution from Waiters in the second quarter with seven points and two rebounds in eight minutes. It was his first action since March 20.
Also, forward Kevin Jones contributed six points and four rebounds.
The Cavs shot just 38 percent from the field in the second quarter.
Neither team played much defense in the first quarter, as the Pistons opened up a 28-24 lead. Detroit shot 59.1 percent from the field, and the Cavaliers shot 52.6 percent.
Thompson had 11 points and seven rebounds in the first quarter for the Cavs.
Monroe and Drummond each had eight points for the Pistons.
NOTES: For the first time since March 20, Cavaliers shooting guard Waiters was in the lineup. He missed 10 games with a sore left knee. Cavs coach Byron Scott said he was happy to get Waiters and point guard Irving on the court together. "They never got into a flow," Scott said. There was a fear that Waiters would need surgery, but the knee healed on its own. Scott said he'd love to bring both Irving and Waiters to Cleveland Clinic Courts this summer to work out together. Irving probably won't play in summer league, where he broke a bone in his hand last year in Las Vegas. "Bad things happen to Kyrie at summer league," Scott said. ... NBA teams were 4,382-1 before Tuesday when they had a 20-point lead with 9 minutes left in the game, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Of course, the Cavs squandered a 20-point advantage in their 99-94 loss to Indiana. ... Indiana University center Cody Zeller declared for the 2013 draft on Wednesday. "I'm excited," Cavs center Tyler Zeller said. "But I would have been excited if he had gone back to school. He deserves everything he got." Tyler said he would love it if the Cavs selected his younger brother. "I'd love to have him as a teammate," Tyler said. The 7-foot Cody is expected to be drafted in the top 10. ... Cavs swingman C.J. Miles (concussion) was placed on the inactive list. Power forward Luke Walton (sprained right ankle) and guard Daniel Gibson (sore right elbow) were also out. For the Pistons, power forward Jason Maxiell (detached retina) and point guard Jose Calderon (strained right triceps) are out.
