Thunder 92, Pistons 90
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Oklahoma City Thunder played with tired legs Monday, but they still had enough energy left to overcome the staggering Detroit Pistons.
Playing for the fourth time in five nights, the Thunder wiped out an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit and extended its winning streak to five games with a 92-90 triumph at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Led by Russell Westbrook's 33 points and 10 rebounds, the Thunder captured its eighth consecutive victory over Detroit. Kevin Durant added 26 points for Oklahoma City.
Rodney Stuckey had 19 points and Greg Monroe chipped in 17 for Detroit, which fell to 0-8, the worst start in franchise history. The Pistons' previous worst opening was seven consecutive losses.
The Pistons extended a six-point halftime lead to 64-51 by opening the second half with a 13-6 spurt. Monroe finished off the run with a layup, and the Thunder never got closer than eight the rest of the third quarter. A Will Bynum layup in the final minute of the period made it 73-62.
Detroit's advantage evaporated quickly. Oklahoma City (6-2) opened the fourth quarter with 13 unanswered points, including nine free throws. Westbrook scored the last six points in that stretch, including a layup with 8:10 remaining to put his team in front.
Thabo Sefolosha's two free throws with 1:20 remaining gave the Thunder the lead for good at 86-85. Durant followed with a runner after a Monroe turnover. Brandon Knight then missed a potential tying 3-pointer, and Westbrook clinched the Thunder's win with two free throws.
The idle Washington Wizards (0-5) are the only other team without a victory.
It's a familiar experience for Pistons coach Lawrence Frank, who was fired as New Jersey's coach in 2009 after the Nets lost their first 16 games. The Nets' season-opening streak of futility lasted 18 games, an NBA record.
Detroit's starting lineup remained the same, despite the team's struggles.
"You know what the problems are. Those are very obvious," Frank said prior to the game. "The solutions aren't as easy."
Frank's reserves were instrumental in building a 51-45 halftime lead. The second unit produced a 19-4 run early in the second quarter, giving the Pistons a 44-32 advantage.
Rookie center Andre Drummond, who produced 22 points and eight rebounds in a loss at Oklahoma City last week, had four points, four rebounds, two steals and a block in an energetic nine-minute stint during the first half Monday. Another rookie, forward Kyle Singler, scored six points in nine first-half minutes. Both Drummond and Singler didn't score in the second half.
The Thunder cut the deficit in half before heading to the locker room, lifted by five unanswered points from forward Serge Ibaka during a 13-3 outburst. Westbrook had 15 first-half points.
NOTES: Detroit had two previous 0-7 starts in franchise history, in 1962-63 and in 1980-81. ... Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks doesn't believe the Los Angeles Lakers' decision to hire Mike D'Antoni as head coach will impact his team's drive to remain Western Conference champion. "That doesn't change how we look at things at all," he said. "We focus on our team, our growth, our development and how we play. It has no bearing on us moving forward." ... Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince took sole possession of eighth place on the franchise scoring list with a first-quarter layup, surpassing Grant Hill (9,393 points). ... Detroit forward Corey Maggette, who hasn't played this season because of a left calf strain, could return to practice this week.
