Drummond shines, Detroit clinch ‘ lovely’ win

Los Angeles, Jan. 31: Detroit Pistons Andre Drummond tallied 21 points and 22 rebounds in a 125- 114 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who not only lost the game but also star Kevin Love with a broken hand.

Love’s exit in the first quarter has the potential to shake up the season for the Cavaliers, who are trying to get back to the NBA finals for the third straight time.

“It’s just unfortunate for our team,” Love’s teammate LeBron James said.

Meanwhile, the Piston’s got ready to welcome new acquisition Blake Griffin into the fold by taking advantage of Love’s absence and snapping an eight- game losing skid.

The Pistons acquired five- time all- star Griffin in a multi- player trade earlier on Tuesday and he is expected to join his new team soon. Detroit gave up three players to get Griffin, and neither he nor the other two players the Pistons received in return were available against Cleveland.

Drummond led the offence while Stanley Johnson added a careerhigh 26 points. Reggie Bullock added 22 points for the Pistons, and Anthony Tolliver scored 20.

James scored 21 points for Cleveland, but Love’s condition was foremost on everyone’s mind. The team said Love had a nondisplaced fracture in his fifth metacarpal and his status would be updated after team doctors examine his hand on Wednesday in Cleveland.

Elsewhere, James Harden became the first player in NBA history to record a 60- point triple double as the short- handed Houston Rockets defeated the Orlando Magic 114- 107.

The 60 points were also a franchise single game record as he surpassed Calvin Murphy, who scored 57 points in 1978.

— Agencies