Rockets blow past Pistons
HOUSTON — Two nights after their NBA record-tying 28-game losing streak ended, the Detroit Pistons were blown out 136-113 on Monday night by the Houston Rockets, who got 26 points and nine assists from Alperen Şengün and 22 points from Jalen Green.
Detroit (3-30), which beat Toronto 129-127 on Saturday, failed to win consecutive games for the second time this season.
Pistons coach Monty Williams said he had thought about how his team would respond after the win.
“I thought about it the last day,” Williams said. “When you're fighting for a win like we were for so long and you get one, I'm sure there's emotional stuff that I can't explain, but when you're in our situation, you got to recover quickly.”
Green and Şengün combined to score 37 points in the third quarter as the Rockets outscored the Pistons 47-25 in the period to take a 106-80 lead into the fourth.
Ex-miami guard Dragic retires
Goran Dragic, a former All-star guard with the Miami Heat and the leader of Slovenia's team that won the Eurobasket championship in 2017, announced his retirement.
Dragic spent 15 seasons in the NBA and played for seven teams — Phoenix,
Houston, Chicago, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Toronto and the Heat. He was part of the ALL-NBA team in 2013-14, the same season in which he was voted the league's most improved player, and made his lone All-star appearance in 2018.
The 37-year-old Dragic spoke often in recent years about what the 2017 Eurobasket win meant to him, especially considering that it is generally considered to be Slovenia's finest moment in team sports. Dragic averaged 22.6 points and 5.1 assists in the nine games at that tournament and finished off the gold with 35 points in the title game win over rival Serbia, his father's homeland.
Monday’s highlights
Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to post the first regular-season triple-double by a Utah player since 2008, leading the Jazz to a 127-90 win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks. … Tyrese Haliburton had 26 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds as the Indiana Pacers beat Giannis Antetokounmpo and host Milwaukee 122-113, stopping the Bucks' 15-game home winning streak. … Jamal Murray scored 25 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 22 as the host Denver Nuggets beat shorthanded Charlotte 111-93, sending the Hornets to their 11th straight loss. … Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points in his return from injury and Paul George added 23 as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the visiting Miami Heat 121-104 for their third straight win. … Bradley Beal scored 21 points as the host Phoenix Suns beat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-88 for their fourth consecutive victory.