+3
For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.
Hey! At least the Pistons only lost by 14, ending their streak of losses by 16 or more points at a franchise-worst four games. The bad news: the Pistons still lost and, if possible, looked worse than they did in at least three of their last four games.
The Mavericks shot a healthy 55-percent behind Dirk Nowitzki's 9-for-10 night (18 points and seven rebounds) and completely outplayed the Pistons in every facet of the game. The Pistons played like they didn't want the ball, turning it over 21 times leading to 27 Mavericks' points.
Will Bynum led all scorers with 20 points, scoring most of them in garbage time. Greg Monroe, early foul trouble and all, managed to still finish with nine points and seven rebounds in nearly 29 minutes.
The Pistons get a much needed day off before heading to Milwaukee on Thursday. Tip off at 8 p.m. eastern.
For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.
Detroit's franchise-worst four-game losing streak by 16 or more points doesn't look like it's going to come to an end through the first 24 minutes against the reigning champions. The Dallas Mavericks are up on the Pistons 52-38.
The Mavs hit their first eight shots and the Pistons turned the ball over on eight of their first 10 possessions, allowing Dallas to jump out to a quick 23-9 lead. Somehow the Pistons battled back to make it a 10-point game after the first quarter before shooting just 6-for-18 in the second quarter and taking a 14-point deficit into the break.
Dirk Nowitizki has 12 points on 6-for-6 shooting and four rebounds. The Mavs are shooting 63-percent, which is a big reason why they are outrebounding the Pistons 17-8.
Brandon Knight leads the Pistons with nine points on 3-for-3 from behind the arc, but he also has four turnovers. Greg Monroe was in foul trouble early and has zero points on just two shots. He leads the team in rebounds with four.
For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.
The Detroit Pistons will try to stop a four-game losing streak when they host the defending champion Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night at the Palace at Auburn Hills.
Detroit's offense has gone missing in action in four losses in a row to the Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and most recently, to the Bulls again on Monday night. In that most recent loss, the Pistons, now 2-7 overall, were outscored 24-9 in the fourth quarter, and that highlights a troubling trend of offensive inaction, as Detroit has averaged just 76 points during its current four-game losing streak.
The Mavericks have not started the season the way they hoped either, although they have recovered well following an 0-3 start. Dallas stands at 4-5 after winning three of four games. However, the Mavericks remain winless on the road thus far, at 0-3.
It is not yet known whether Rodney Stuckey (groin) will return to the court. Stuckey has missed the team's last three games. Knight started at point guard in place of Rodney Stuckey (groin) against Chicago on Monday night and scored 13 points on 6-10 shooting along with 5 rebounds and one assist.
For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.
Who Were Those Fans On The Mavericks Bench At Tuesday's Pistons Game?
by Ian Casselberry
The good news for the Detroit Pistons is that their game against the Dallas Mavericks made the highlight reel on SportsCenter Tuesday night.
The bad news is that the game was highlighted for reasons having nothing to do with basketball.
Perhaps any game featuring the Mavs will get attention, given that they're the defending NBA champions. However, the Pistons didn't put up much of a fight, losing 100-86, and there wasn't much worth seeing again from the game. Except for the sight of two fans in civilian clothes (not suits), beers in hand, sitting on the Dallas bench.
Not next to the Mavs' bench. But actually among the players, sitting between Vince Carter and Delonte West. Much to the disbelief of George Blaha and Greg Kelser on the FOX Sports Detroit telecast. See for yourself.
So what was the story here? Who were those guys? And how did they get such choice seats? Were they friends of the players? Even if they were, why was coach Rick Carlisle allowing two guys enjoying a few pops to sit between his players during a game?
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Jan 11 12:24p