Bucks-Pistons Preview

By MIKE LIPKA
Posted Dec 30 2012 1:10AM

The Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons are both feeling good coming off wins over the reigning NBA champions, but one team will lose to a far less decorated opponent Sunday night when the Central Division rivals meet at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Milwaukee (16-12) used a dominant fourth quarter to defeat Miami 104-85 on Saturday, outscoring the Heat 35-14 over the final 12 minutes. The Bucks shot just 40.8 percent from the field but matched a season low with six turnovers - none by Brandon Jennings, who finished with 25 points, seven assists and four steals.

The Pistons (10-22) beat Miami 109-99 on Friday for their third victory in four games, but this one felt a bit different considering the previous two came against NBA-worst Washington following a six-game losing streak.

It helped that the Heat were playing without Dwyane Wade, but that hardly made the performance of Will Bynum and the Pistons' bench any less impressive. Detroit's reserves outscored Miami's 64-20, one game after they contributed 85 points in a 126-119 double-overtime loss at Atlanta.

Bynum had 25 points and 10 assists Friday after scoring 31 against the Hawks, combining to shoot 23 of 42 (54.8 percent) in those games. Those numbers are even more stunning considering the healthy guard didn't even play in 10 contests during a recent 12-game stretch, last sitting out Dec. 19 at Toronto.

"Will kind of got squeezed in the rotation," coach Lawrence Frank said. "Had several DNPs, stayed the course, and he deserves all the credit."

He got plenty from the reigning NBA MVP.

"He was amazing," LeBron James said. "He controlled the game with his motor and his offense. He was hitting everything and he was getting everyone else involved. We couldn't do anything with him."

Rookie Andre Drummond had his third double-double in four games with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and former Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva added 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He's averaged 17.0 points while hitting 11 of 20 from 3-point range in his last three contests.

Villanueva missed all four of the Pistons' meetings with Milwaukee last season with ankle problems. Jennings averaged 22.0 points as the Bucks won three of those.

Milwaukee has won three of its last four on the road thanks in large part to stifling defense. Its opponents are averaging 89.5 points and 20.0 turnovers while shooting 39.8 percent in those games.

That doesn't even include the shutdown of the Heat, who posted their second-lowest point total of the season and matched their 2012-13 high with 21 turnovers. The Bucks turned those into 25 points.

"There's no secret by now," coach Scott Skiles said. "When we're up and down the floor and creating the pace we like to play at, most times we look like a pretty good club. When we're kind of deliberate, when the shot clock starts winding down, we're not near as good."

It's unclear if Detroit will have Rodney Stuckey available after he missed Friday's game with a sprained ankle. Stuckey ranks among the NBA's top 10 with 13.2 points per game when coming off the bench.

Prince's late FTs lift Pistons over Bucks 96-94

Posted Dec 30 2012 11:13PM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Tayshaun Prince made the game-winning shots from the free throw line. His work in the low post set it up.

Prince made two free throws with 10.9 seconds left to give Detroit a 96-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night after the Pistons blew a 14-point lead.

Prince, who led Detroit with 20 points, did much of his damage down low and that's where he was when Luc Mbah a Moute fouled the veteran small forward to send him to the free throw line with the opportunity to win the game.

"I just had a real good rhythm down there tonight," Prince said. "And they kept looking for me."

Greg Monroe added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit, which had five players in double figures. Charlie Villanueva and Brandon Knight scored 11 apiece, while Jason Maxiell had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Prince's impact, however, went beyond the numbers.

"Just his presence out there helps us," Knight said. "He's a big-time player and he's been in those situations so many times."

Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, and Erson Ilyasova scored 24 for the Bucks.

"It seemed like they were getting whatever they wanted," Milwaukee's Mike Dunleavy said. "And I just thought our offensive rhythm was terrible to start the game. Finally we got some stuff going, but we didn't start well."

Both teams were coming off wins over the defending NBA champions. Detroit beat Miami 109-99 in Auburn Hills on Friday night, and the Bucks beat the Heat 104-85 in Milwaukee one night later.

Ellis hit a fallaway baseline jumper with 1:06 left, after almost losing the ball out of bounds, to give the Bucks their first lead, 94-92. But Prince's hook shot tied the score with 50.5 seconds remaining. Ellis missed a jumper with 31.9 seconds to go and Maxiell got the rebound. Following a timeout, Mbah a Moute fouled Prince, who stepped to the line and produced the game-winning points.

Ilyasova's 3-pointer with 1:43 left tied it at 92 to complete the comeback from a 14-point deficit.

Detroit led 78-71 going into the fourth quarter after leading 72-58 on Monroe's jumper with 4:14 left in the third.

The Pistons jumped out to an early 13-0 lead, holding the Bucks scoreless until 8:07 remained in the first quarter when Ellis made a driving layup. Milwaukee battled back to 19-17 on Ellis' two free throws with 4:03 left in the first and 21-19 with 3:02 remaining on a driving layup by Ellis.

Detroit then outscored Milwaukee 9-4 over the remainder of the quarter for a 30-23 lead after one. The Pistons led 55-45 at halftime after leading by as many as 14 twice during the second quarter.

Detroit made 57 percent of its shots and had 36 points in the paint in the first half.

"It was more than a bad start, it was a bad 3 1/2 quarters," Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said. "They outplayed us except for maybe six to eight minutes the whole game."

NOTES: Sunday was the 22nd anniversary of Skiles setting the NBA record of 30 assists in a game for the Orlando Magic. "The game is different now. It would be hard for someone to do it," he said. "Our team at that time wasn't that good, so it was an individual thing." ... Detroit G Rodney Stuckey didn't play because of a left ankle sprain. ... Sheila E. performed at halftime. ... Mbah a Moute left early in the first quarter with a cut on his lip. He received three stitches and returned late in the period.

Notebook: Pistons 96, Bucks 94

Dana Gauruder, for NBA.com
Posted Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:15 PM - Updated Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:15 PM

THE FACTS: Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 10.9 seconds remaining, as the Detroit Pistons downed the Milwaukee Bucks 96-94 at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday night. Greg Monroe had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Jason Maxiell added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit, which has won four of its last five games. The Pistons trailed only once but barely survived Milwaukee's late rally. Monta Elllis scored a game-high 30 points, and Ersan Ilyasova added 24 points for the Bucks, who erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

QUOTABLE: "For the most part, we stayed with it. They responded well, which we knew they would. Obviously, we didn't want them to take the lead but it was a good win for us. We've just got keep taking advantage of these games at home while we have this streak."
-- Prince on the Pistons' improved play.

THE STAT: 33. The Pistons had a much more balanced approach after relying on their bench the previous two games. The reserves scored 85 against Atlanta Wednesday and 64 points against Miami. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time in franchise history the bench had scored at least 60 points in back-to-back games since it started keeping such stats in 1970. The reserves contributed a more modest 33 points Sunday but the starters played a bigger role, as four of them reached double figures.

TURNING POINT: Milwaukee took its only lead with 1:06 left when Ellis hit a fadeaway but the Pistons, who squandered eight double-digit leads in losses this season, didn't fold. Prince responded with a 5-foot jump hook to tie the game. Ellis missed a pair of 18-foot jumpers on the Bucks' last two possessions, sandwiching Prince's game-deciding free throws.

QUOTABLE II: "I definitely wanted to take the 3-point option away and make sure I forced him to go to the basket. I just tried to cut off his first dribble and keep him in front of me."
-- Pistons guard Brandon Knight, who forced Ellis' final miss with 1.9 seconds remaining.

HOT: Ilyasova had a season high in points, making nine of 12 field-goal attempts and three free throws. He scored 12 of his points in the fourth and also dished out both of his assists in the quarter. He came into the game averaging 8.6 points.

NOT: Knight continues to struggle from the field. He went 4-for-12, making him 27-for-89 (30.3 percent) in the last eight games. He has just 30 assists along with 23 turnovers in that stretch while averaging 10.5 points.

ROOKIE WATCH: Detroit center Andre Drummond had eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes. Guard Kyle Singler had eight points on just 2-for-11 from the field, though he did make three steals.

NOTABLE: Neither team has swept the season series, even though they have been playing since the 1968-69 season. This was the first of four games between the division rivals this season. Milwaukee led the all-time series, 118-99. ... Pistons sixth man Rodney Stuckey missed his second straight game with a left ankle sprain. ... Milwaukee forward Luc Mbah A Moute required three stitches to close a cut to his lip, an injury he suffered 1:17 into the game. ... Detroit was playing the second game of a five-game homestand, its longest this season. ... Bucks coach Scott Skiles set the NBA single-game assists record 22 years to the day. Skiles had 30 assists for the Orlando Magic against the Denver Nuggets. "I don't give it a lot of thought," he said. "The game is a lot different now, so it's hard for anybody to (break) it." ... Milwaukee center Larry Sanders entered the game leading the NBA in blocks (3.04 per game) but had just one Sunday.

UP NEXT: For the Bucks, Wednesday vs. San Antonio, Friday vs. Houston, Saturday @ Indiana. For the Pistons, Tuesday vs. Sacramento, Friday vs. Atlanta, Sunday vs. Charlotte.

• Bucks: Lamb, Przybilla
• Pistons: Kravtsov, Stuckey

• Bucks: --
• Pistons: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
• Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #11 Derrick Collins, #63 Derek Richardson
• Attendance: 14219
• Duration: 2:06