Pistons crush Kings in Reggie Jackson’s return

DETROIT — With 4:56 remaining in the first quarter Wednesday night, Detroit Pistons coach Dwane Casey inserted point guard Reggie Jackson into the lineup against the Sacramento Kings.

In his time with the Pistons, Jackson has become a player some fans love to hate.

But Jackson, who missed 42 games with a back injury was greeted with mostly cheers at Little Caesars Arena.

And as is often the case when

Jackson is available, the Pistons were winners even with Andre Drummond absent because off a lip laceration.

Jackson scored 22 points on 8for-14 shooting in helping the Pistons to a 127-106 victory to open a four-game homestand.

Jackson was 3-for-7 from 3point range, added four assists and was a team-high plus-26 in 19 minutes as the Pistons (17-28) have won three of four.

Derrick Rose continued to start and scored 22 points and had 11 assists. Christian Wood was 7-for-7 from the field in scoring a team-high 23 points.

Seven Pistons scored in double figures.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings (15-29) with 22 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 19 points off the bench.

Since he was acquired minutes before the 2015 trade deadline, the Pistons have been better when Jackson has been healthy.

The team earned the No. 8 seed in 2015-16 with a 44-38 record with Jackson as the most important offensive player.

He missed significant time with a sore knee the next season and the Pistons finished 37-45 and missed the playoffs.

He suffered a severely sprained ankle during the 201718 season and the Pistons finished 39-43 and missed the playoffs. Team president and coach Stan Van Gundy was fired after the season.

Last season, Jackson played all 82 games and the Pistons reached the playoffs with a 41-41 record.

Jackson’s most impressive allaround sequence came late in the first quarter.

He scored a 3-pointer with 32.1 seconds left in the first quarter

to cut the Kings’ lead to 26-24.

After a Harry Giles III free throw, Jackson found Wood for a layup to cut the Kings lead to 2726 with 5.4 seconds left.

Jackson stole the ball from Bogdanovic around half-court and calmly turned and got off a 3point attempt just before the quarter buzzer, but he missed the 34-footer.

The Pistons were without Blake Griffin (knee), Luke Kennard (both knees) and Tim Frazier (flu) and Bruce Brown (flu). The Kings were missing big men Marvin Bagley III and Richaun Holmes.