Lowly Pistons roll past reeling Heat
Nba-worst Detroit hands Miami its third straight loss
The Detroit Pistons had their most dominant quarter in nearly two years. And last season’s NBA Finals trip for the Miami Heat suddenly seems long ago.
Jerami Grant scored 24 points, Derrick Rose had 23 off the bench and the Pistons — the team with the NBA’S worst record — came into Miami and beat the Heat 120-100 on Saturday night, sending the reigning Eastern Conference champions to a third consecutive loss.
The teams meet again Monday in Miami.
Spurs 103, Rockets 91:
Demar Derozan scored 24 points, Dejounte Murray had 18 points and 10 rebounds and San
Antonio rallied to beat undermanned Houston, snapping a four-game home losing streak. Murray had seven points in the fourth quarter, including a breakaway dunk that put the Spurs up 97-85 with 3:18 remaining after stripping Mason Jones of the ball at midcourt. Rockets center Christian Wood had 24 points and 17 rebounds, and Jones had a season-high 24 points. Ben Mclemore had a season-high 21 points on 4-for-7 shooting from 3-point range.
Grizzlies 106, 76ers 104: Ja Morant returned to the Memphis lineup after missing eight games with an ankle injury and scored 17 points, leading the Grizzlies to a win over Philadelphia. Morant, who sprained his left ankle Dec. 28 at Brooklyn, added six assists. Rookie Xavier Tillman added 15 points and Grayson Allen had 12 as the Grizzlies won their fourth straight game.
Raptors 116, Hornets 113:
Chris Boucher, Kyle Lowry and Fred Van Fleet converted eight straight free throws in the final two minutes, helping Toronto beat Charlotte for the Raptors first two-game win streak of the season. Norman Powell led the Raptors with 24 points, and Boucher added 20 points and nine rebounds. Gordon Heyward scored 25 points and
Terry Rozier added 24 for the Hornets, losers of three straight.
Note: Caris Levert’s debut with the Indiana Pacers has been put on hold indefinitely after an MRI revealed a small mass on his left kidney. President of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard made the announcement Saturday, three days after Levert became part of a blockbuster, four-team deal that sent perennial All-star James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets and two-time All-star Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets. Pritchard did not provide details of the diagnosis, including whether it was cancerous and declined to establish a timeline for Levert’s return.