Hornets-Pistons Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Feb 04 2012 12:07AM

While the New Orleans Hornets have been able to hang tough through three quarters of play, they've been plagued by an inability to get things going over the final 12 minutes.

The Detroit Pistons have experienced fourth-quarter woes of their own - and despite almost letting another win slip away - managed to hold off their last opponent.

Hoping to avoid a 14th loss in 15 games, Western Conference-worst New Orleans looks to snap a five-game road losing streak Saturday night when it visits the Palace of Auburn Hills.

One day after getting outscored 32-16 in the fourth quarter of a 120-103 loss to Phoenix, the Hornets' late-game struggles continued in Thursday's 93-81 loss at San Antonio. New Orleans (4-19) shot just 29.0 percent from the floor in getting outscored 22-13 in the final quarter.

"It's just closing out games like coach said over and over but like I said (Wednesday) night, we just have to flush the toilet on this one and look forward to the next game and continue to work harder," guard Marco Belinelli said.

With star Eric Gordon still sidelined with a sore right knee and fellow guard Jarrett Jack out with knee pain, Greivis Vasquez scored 16 in his first start of the season.

"We lost the last two games in the fourth quarter," Vasquez said. "We play hard in the third quarter and then we do not execute in the fourth. As a point guard it's hard to fill Chris Paul's shoes but I expect myself to be better and that takes a little work."

The Hornets are averaging just 21.0 points in the fourth quarter to rank 29th in the league - ahead of only Detroit's mark of 20.7. The Pistons (5-20) had dropped seven in a row by 14.4 points per game but regrouped with an 88-80 win over Milwaukee on Friday.

Detroit led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter but saw its lead slip to four with 2:54 remaining to play. While the Pistons were outscored 19-16 in the fourth, they were able to shut down the Bucks when it mattered most.

"Everybody just gave the maximum effort tonight," Greg Monroe, who had 18 points and 11 boards for his sixth double-double in seven contests, told the team's official website. "Communication was good. Everybody was on the same page. We're getting better."

Also coming up big was Brandon Knight, who had a season-high 26 points.

"Me, as a rookie, that's something I've got to be able to do each and every game, no matter who we're playing against," said Knight, the eighth overall pick who is averaging 12.3 points.

The Pistons haven't won back-to-back games since Dec. 31-Jan. 2.

The Hornets have been outscored by an average of 9.4 points during their road skid. They've also dropped three of four at Detroit, including back-to-back overtime defeats.

Jack's injury isn't considered serious, but his status for Saturday is uncertain. Vazquez, who posted career highs of 20 points and 12 assists versus the Suns, would likely draw another start if Jack can't go.

After excusing Chris Kaman from team activities last week while trying to trade him, New Orleans reactivated the 7-foot center Friday. Kaman isn't expected to be available in this game but could return Monday versus Sacramento.

Saturday marks the only meeting between the teams this season.

Detroit's Ben Gordon is likely to miss a 10th consecutive game due to a shoulder injury.

Monroe scores 24, Pistons edge Hornets 89-87

Posted Feb 04 2012 11:37PM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Greg Monroe and Walker D. Russell Jr. made up for the loss of Brandon Knight.

Monroe had 24 points and 16 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons beat the New Orleans Hornets 89-87 Saturday in a matchup of two of the NBA's worst teams.

It was the seventh double-double in eight games for Monroe, whose elbow was partially responsible for Knight's injury.

"That's mostly just effort," Monroe said. "I know this is our seventh game in nine nights, but we just have to keep working hard. That's how this whole season is going to be."

Russell, whose father played for the Pistons in the 1980s, came off the bench to add nine points and four assists.

"I've been playing more in the last few games, and that helped me a lot tonight," said Russell, who played a career-high 33 minutes. "Coming off the bench like this is new for me, but getting more time has gotten me in sync with my teammates, so I was comfortable running things."

Rodney Stuckey added 17 for Detroit (6-20), which won consecutive games for the second time this season and had five scorers in double figures.

"Walker really held down the fort when we lost Brandon," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. "Brandon was begging to go back into the game, which shows you what kind of heart he has, but that wasn't going to happen. He'll get it set tomorrow, get fitted for a mask on Monday and we hope to have him back on the floor for Tuesday's practice."

New Orleans (4-20) lost its fifth straight. Trevor Ariza led the Hornets with 26.

Both teams spent most of the game without their starting point guards. New Orleans' Jarrett Jack missed the game with a knee injury, and Knight was lost early.

The Hornets led 44-41 at the half, but Monroe helped the Pistons take a 65-61 lead into the fourth quarter.

"This is the dog days of the NBA right now," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. "A lot of players are kind of going through the motions right now, and we certainly played that way tonight. I thought we'd be fresher because I gave them yesterday off, but maybe that hurt us."

By that point, Carl Landry had left the game with a left knee injury, and the Pistons took advantage. Four straight points from Stuckey gave Detroit a 75-65 lead with 7:50 to play.

Greivis Vasquez, though, scored the first seven points in a 9-0 New Orleans run that pulled the Hornets to within a point with 5:22 to play. That was as close as the Hornets got, however. Monroe scored the next basket on an offensive putback, and Stuckey's jumper put Detroit up 83-76 with 1:45 left.

"Give them credit, they played harder at the end of the game," Vasquez said. "I think that's the biggest weakness of this team, breaking down when we are in tough times. We had big turnovers and they beat us on the offensive glass."

NOTES: Knight joined a Detroit injury list that already included Will Bynum (foot strain), Ben Gordon (shoulder) and Charlie Villanueva (ankle). Bynum and Gordon both hope to return to practice on Monday, while Villanueva is expected to miss most of the season. ... Chris Kaman, who was sent home by the Hornets while they tried to trade him, is expected to rejoin the team in the next two days. ... Jason Smith left the game in the fourth quarter after being floored by two separate shots to the head in the second half.

Notebook: Pistons 89, Hornets 87

By Dana Gauruder, for NBA.com
Posted Saturday February 4, 2012 11:25PM

THE FACTS: Center Greg Monroe had 24 points and 16 rebounds, tying a season high, as the Detroit Pistons defeated the New Orleans Hornets for their second straight victory, 89-87, Saturday night at The Palace. Monroe's seventh double-double in his last eight games helped the Pistons overcome the loss of rookie guard Brandon Knight, who suffered a broken nose with 6:51 remaining in the first quarter and did not return. Forward Trevor Ariza's season-high 26 points led the Hornets, who lost their fifth straight and 20th in the last 22 games.

QUOTABLE: "He's breathing fine but his nose is a little crooked. He's probably going to have to sit out (briefly) and get a mask. I'm looking forward to seeing the mask."
-- Monroe on Knight's broken nose

THE STAT: 52. Led by Monroe and forward Jason Maxiell (10 points), the Pistons consistently got production from their frontcourt players by working the ball inside. They had a 52-36 advantage in points in the paint, as all but nine of their baskets were scored in the lane. Detroit was averaging 39 points in the paint entering the game.

TURNING POINT: After getting a short rest, Monroe stopped a 9-0 Hornets run with a putback of a missed Tayshaun Prince jumper with 4:56 remaining. Rookie guard Walker Russell Jr., who played 33 minutes because of Knight's injury, then forced a turnover and scored a fast-break layup for a 79-74 lead. The Hornets were down at least three from that point until Ariza's layup at the buzzer.

QUOTABLE II: "I've been playing more and more lately, so when Coach (Lawrence Frank) called me, I had the confidence to step up there and play. I was playing freely. Guys were telling me, 'Hey, Walk, it's your show, your keys now.' I can appreciate that and it boosted my confidence even more."
-- Pistons rookie guard Russell Jr. on filling in for Knight most of the game.

HOT: Ariza had not scored more than 18 this season but he kept his team within striking distance by dropping in an assortment of midrange shots and layups along with two 3-pointers. He also made all six of his free throws, grabbed seven rebounds, made four assists and had three of his team's six steals.

NOT: Ex-Piston DaJuan Summers made his third straight start at shooting guard for the Hornets but had a forgettable night in his return to Detroit. He played just eight minutes, shot 1 of 5 from the field and committed three fouls. Summers also broke Knight's nose with an inadvertent elbow while battling for an offensive rebound.

NOTABLE: Hornets starting point guard Jarrett Jack missed his second straight game with a sore left knee. Greivis Vasquez had 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds as his replacement. ... Hornets reserve forward Al-Farouq Aminu had 14 points, one below his season high. ... Detroit guard Rodney Stuckey had 17 points and forwards Prince and Jonas Jerebko added 11 apiece. ... The Pistons completed a stretch of seven games in nine nights and now get three days off. ... Despite two consecutive victories, Detroit's 6-20 record is a franchise worst after 26 games.

UP NEXT: For the Hornets, Monday vs. Sacramento, Wednesday vs. Chicago, Friday vs. Portland. For the Pistons, Wednesday @ New Jersey, Friday vs. New Jersey, Sunday vs. Washington.

• Hornets: Gordon
• Pistons: Villanueva

• Hornets: --
• Pistons: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
• Officials: #12 Violet Palmer, #22 Bill Spooner, #58 Josh Tiven
• Attendance: 13174
• Duration: 2:14