Pistons 115, Cavaliers 92
CLEVELAND -- The Detroit Pistons brought their impressive road record into Quicken Loans Arena two days before Christmas and smashed the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-92 on Monday night.
Pistons forward Josh Smith, who is playing at an All-Star level, had 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 23.8 points in his last six games.
The Pistons (14-16) improved to 8-6 on the road this season.
Point guard Brandon Jennings was another standout for the Pistons with 21 points and a game-high 13 assists. Center Andre Drummond added 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while power forward Greg Monroe had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Pistons' defense was so suffocating, the Cavs (10-17) had trouble running their offense. They shot just 38.6 percent from the field.
Detroit shot 47.9 percent from the floor and also thumped the Cavs on the boards 50-39.
All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving had 21 points and seven assists for the Cavs, who had won five of their last six games at home.
Power forward Tristan Thompson added 17 points and six rebounds for the Cavs. Center Tyler Zeller had a season-high 13 points and four rebounds. He made 6 of 7 field-goal attempts. Reserve guard Matthew Dellavedova had 10 points and six assists.
It was the Cavs' most lopsided loss at home this season.
The Pistons' late spurt in the third quarter opened up a 25-point bulge, 89-64. They outscored the Cavs in the third 31-24.
Center Andrew Bynum missed all 11 shots from the field for zero points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes.
Things got even worse in the second quarter for the Cavs. Their shooting percentage dipped to 27.5 percent from the field, as the Pistons stormed to a 58-40 lead.
The Cavs' Bynum, C.J. Miles, Jarrett Jack and Anthony Bennett shot a combined 0 of 19 from field in the first half.
The 7-foot Bynum was particularly ineffective with a 0-for-9 performance.
Smith was the best player on the court in the first half with 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Jennings added 11 points and five assists in the first half.
Irving fired in 19 points in the first half, which included a 3-for-6 performance from behind the arc.
The Pistons led by 21 points at one point in the first half.
NOTES: Cavaliers G Dion Waiters, wearing a splint on his right wrist, said he hopes to return soon. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder said his wrist tendinitis developed over time. He missed his third consecutive game Monday. ... Cleveland F Anthony Bennett was back in action. He had been in bed since Thursday fighting a sickness. "I was sneezing, coughing and had a sore throat," Bennett said. ... The Pistons came into Monday's game with a 7-6 mark on the road, far better than their 6-10 home mark. "If I could explain it, I'd solve it," coach Mo Cheeks said. ... Pistons C Andre Drummond came into the game averaging 12.6 rebounds, including 5.2 on the offensive glass. "It's tough to keep him off the glass," Brown said. "He gets off the ground quickly for a big man." ... Pistons F Josh Smith averaged 23.6 points over the previous five games.
