Pro Sports

Thunder rally, beat sliding Pistons to end 8-game skid

Posted December 06, 2021 6:00 am

By DAVE HOGG

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) reaches in on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) - Shea Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and 13 assists, Luguentz Dort scored 28 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied past the Detroit Pistons 114-103 Monday night in a battle of teams that entered with eight-game losing streaks.

Detroit led by 16 in the third quarter and 12 early in the fourth, but the Pistons were outscored 25-8 in the final five minutes of their ninth straight loss.

Gilgeous-Alexander's layup with 3:46 left gave Oklahoma City its first lead of the game, and after Cade Cunningham's miss, Mike Muscala made it 101-97 with a 3-pointer.

Another empty possession by the Pistons led to a three-point play for Dort, giving Oklahoma City a 104-97 advantage with 2:43 to play.

Cunningham had 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, while Jeremi Grant added 20 points.

Cunningham scored nine points in the first five minutes and finished with 15 in the first half. The offensively challenged Pistons shot 49% from the floor, including 52.6% on 3-pointers, to take a 63-50 lead into the half.

Detroit only scored 18 points in the third quarter, turning the ball over seven times, but played enough defense to hang on to a nine-point lead.

Jordan Lyles opened the fourth with a 3-pointer, but the Thunder answered with a nine-point run. Pistons coach Dwane Casey called a timeout with 9:33 left and his team's lead down to 84-81.

TIP INS

Thunder: Oklahoma City, the fifth-best rebounding team in the NBA, was outrebounded 52-40. The Pistons had 16 offensive rebounds.

Pistons: Detroit came into the game ranked second in the league in bench scoring at 39.4 points per game. However, the Pistons only got 12 points from the bench in the first half.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

Pistons: Host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander passes the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) reaches for the rebound next to Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is defended by Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press

Detroit Pistons guard Frank Jackson (5) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham drives up court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press

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