Cavs limp into James reunion with 2-13 mark

DETROIT >> Before Detroit’s matchup with Cleveland, Pistons coach Dwane Casey stressed the importance of a good start.

“When the bell rings, we’ve got to be ready to run and play fast, and play together,” Casey said. “I’ve had it before and somehow, there’s some reason we get off to that slow start, and we can’t afford that.”

Casey could have few complaints about his team’s start Nov. 19. The Pistons shot 74 percent from the field in the first quarter and sailed to a 113-102 win over the Cavaliers.

Andre Drummond had 23 points and 16 rebounds for the Pistons, Blake Griffin added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Reggie Bullock scored 21 points. The Pistons led, 66-46, at halftime, and the game was never close after that.

“We had a lot of positives,” Casey said. “I thought our defense was solid and we started the game well. I was on the team about the start and we scored 38 points in the first quarter.”

The Cavaliers are now an NBA-worst 2-13 heading into their reunion with LeBron

James. The Lakers play at Quicken Loans Arena on Nov. 21.

Drummond scored 13 points in the first quarter. The Pistons led, 38-27, after one, then scored the first 11 points of the second. Bullock’s 3-pointer in the final seconds made it a 20-point advantage at the half.

The lead reached 30 in the third quarter before the Cavaliers went on an 18-2 run that lasted well into the fourth,

making the final score a little more respectable.

“I feel like we were on a run, and we were rolling,” Cleveland’s Collin Sexton said. “When it’s like that, I feel like anything’s possible.”

Sexton led the Cavs with 18 points, and Jordan Clarkson contributed 16.

Tip-ins

CAVALIERS >> Cleveland is without star F Kevin Love (left foot), and G George

Hill (right shoulder) and F Sam Dekker (left ankle) were also out for the Cavs. ... The Cavaliers were outrebounded, 50-36, but had a 20-11 advantage in secondchance points . ... Rodney Hood and Ante Zizic scored 12 points each, and Tristan Thompson and Cedi Osman added 10 apiece.

Up next

CAVALIERS >> Host the Lakers on Nov. 21.