By the Associated Press
DETROIT — Though Bruce Brown had career highs in points and assists on Saturday night, his coach was just as interested with a stat he didn’t pile up.
No turnovers.
Detroit Pistons guard Bruce Brown (6) passes the ball against Brooklyn Nets center DeAndre Jordan (6) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo / Duane Burleson)
Dwane Casey praised his second-year player after a 113-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, in which Brown had 22 points and seven assists in his first career start as a point guard.
“That was the key to the game was not letting them get out in transition,” Casey said of the turnovers. “He did an excellent job. Him being a point guard, that’s why the summer league was beneficial for him, to make sure that he learned to run pick-and-roll, to run the team. He did a good job.”
Andre Drummond had 25 points and 20 rebounds, and Luke Kennard finished with 24 points and helped seal the win with a driving basket and two free throws in the final 30 seconds of both teams’ second game in two nights.
Drummond had at least 20 points and 20 rebounds for the third straight game and fourth time in seven games this season. He added six assists, five blocks and three steals.
“He’s a big guy, and he’s skilled under there in terms of rebounding,” Nets center Jarrett Allen said. “He knows where to put his body and he knows where to put himself. At the end of the day, he has every skill set needed for it.”
Kyrie Irving had his first triple-double with Brooklyn with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He played well late but scored six points in the first three quarters, in part because of Brown’s defense.
The game swung wildly in the middle quarters. The Nets outscored Detroit by 15 points in the second quarter, and the Pistons turned it around for a 14-point advantage in the third.
“We were down 14 in the third quarter, but it was nothing but grit and grind to come back the way the guys did,” Casey said. “We’ve got to be that way every night.”
The Pistons, who averaged 19.8 turnovers in the first six games, committed eight in the first half, but none after halftime.
Spencer Dinwiddie split a pair of free throws with 7.4 seconds remaining, and Drummond did the same with 6.7 seconds left to put the Pistons up 111-108.
Prince then split a pair, missing the second on purpose, and Drummond grabbed the rebound and made a pair with 3.6 seconds left to seal the win.
“For some reason we ran out of gas in the second half, and I’m not sure why,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said.
Drummond had 11 rebounds in the first quarter and assisted the first three baskets. His playmaking was a boost for a team short on ball-handlers.
Playing without injured point guards Reggie Jackson (back), Derrick Rose (hamstring) and Tim Frazier (shoulder), the Pistons played Brown and Kennard at the position, with Drummond facilitating from the high post.
“It was a game of opportunity for some guys,” Kennard said. “Bruce, the way he stepped up tonight, he was kind of one of our leaders on the court. So credit to the kid. He played his heart out offensively and he was guarding their best player throughout the entire game.”
Taurean Prince added 20 points and Joe Harris had 18 for the Nets.
Murray, Jokic lead Nuggets past Magic
Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets pushed aside the Orlando Magic to snap a two-game losing streak.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) goes up for a shot in front of Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo / Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Murray scored 22 points, Jokic had 20 points and seven rebounds and both made big late plays to help Denver beat Orlando 91-87 on Saturday night.
“It’s the little stuff that’s going to help us be successful on offense,” Murray said. “We all know we can shoot, we’re struggling with shots right now, but all that will change sometime.”
Jokic hit a shot from the corner with 1:53 left to put Denver up 84-81. Murray made a jumper with 1:24 left, drove for a dunk and an 88-83 lead with 35 seconds remaining, and wrapped up the victory with two free throws with 5.1 seconds left.
“If you’re a good team, you don’t go on extended losing streaks. That’s the reality of the NBA,” said Denver coach Michael Malone. “If you’re going to be a good team, you respond. … So we got back to defending and play with great energy and sharing the ball.”
Sixteen of Jokic’s 20 points came in the second half.
“I was just more aggressive,” he said. “I just wanted to make them react to me, and that takes a lot of pressure off other players.”
The Nuggets shot only 37%, but pulled ahead in the third quarter when the Magic made only seven of 25 shots.
Nikola Vuevic scored 24 points for Orlando, and Aaron Gordon added 21 points and nine rebounds.
Vucevic made his first five shots and helped Orlando to a 12-point lead, the largest of the game for either team.
Two free throws by Torrey Craig with 4:01 left in the third quarter gave the Nuggets their first lead, 61-60. A 3-pointer by Malik Beasley stretched Denver’s lead to eight early in the fourth quarter.
Vucevic’s 3-pointer tied it at 81 with 3:57 left, but Murray and Jokic scored nine of Denver’s 10 points after that.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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