Pistons 100, Wizards 68
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight had 15 points apiece as the Detroit Pistons snapped a six-game losing streak with a 100-68 victory over the depleted Washington Wizards at The Palace Friday night.
Rookie Andre Drummond racked up a career-high 14 rebounds and five blocks to go along with 11 points for the Pistons (8-21), who never trailed. Washington's point total was a season low for both the Wizards and a Detroit opponent.
Jordan Crawford's 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists topped the Wizards (3-21), who lost for the sixth consecutive time.
Already struggling with injuries, the Wizards dressed only nine players. They were forced to play without second-leading scorer and top rebounder Nene, who has battled a left foot injury all season. He has missed half of their 24 games. Rookie guard and third-leading scorer Bradley Beal sat out his second consecutive game with a sore back.
The blowout was the first game of a home-and-home series between the clubs, who own the worst and fourth-worst records in the league. The rematch will be played in Washington Saturday night.
The teams combined to miss 17 of the first 19 shot attempts before Detroit took control while Washington (3-21) continued to misfire. A 19-2 outburst spanning the first and second quarters gave the Pistons a 35-14 lead.
Knight and Charlie Villanueva hit 3-pointers late in the first quarter. Drummond made his presence felt early in the second with three consecutive inside baskets off penetration moves by Rodney Stuckey. The Wizards could only manage a Crawford layup during that span.
Paced by Knight's 11 points, Detroit had three players in double figures by halftime and led 53-34. Monroe and Drummond combined for 17 points and 14 rebounds and Drummond had already established his career best with four blocks.
Tayshaun Prince's 3-pointer from the top of the key widened the lead to 27, 70-43, midway through the third.
Stuckey (11 points) took an elbow in the mouth from Washington's Kevin Seraphin with 10:03 remaining and did not return. Ukranian center Viacheslav Kravtsov made his NBA debut by replacing Stuckey as the free throw shooter and hit one of two.
Notes: The Pistons have won nine of their last 10 at home against the Wizards. ... Pistons reserve forward Corey Maggette, their highest-paid player, was inactive. He recently lost his rotation spot to Austin Daye. ... Detroit's 7-21 record entering the game equaled the franchise's 1963-64 club for the worst start through 28 games. ... The Wizards were ranked last in scoring (89.7 points per game) and offensive field-goal percentage (40.7 percent). ... The Pistons had lost eight games in which they held double-digit leads, including five at home. ... Washington coach Randy Wittman has started 12 of the 15 players on his roster. ... Drummond came into the game leading all qualifying rookies in blocks (1.43 per game) and tied for first with Charlotte's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in rebounding (6.4) despite averaging 18.5 minutes. "We think Andre is going to be very, very special and it's a long, long year," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said of his playing time. "It's predicated on his progress and the combinations, both for us and what the other team has out there. And some of our other players may be playing well. There are a lot of different variables that go into it."
