Malik Beasley scored 23 points as the Detroit Pistons moved over .500 and pushed their winning streak to five games by defeating the depleted Brooklyn Nets 113-98 on Wednesday night in New York.
The Pistons led most of the way in winning for the eighth time in nine games and improved to 19-18 by beating the Nets for the second time this season, both times decisively. Detroit also is on its first five-game winning streak since March 2-10, 2019.
After he made just 1 of 10 shots on Monday when the Pistons rallied for a three-point win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, Beasley made 9-of-17 shots on Wednesday. He sank four 3-pointers and scored 16 of his points in the opening half.
Simone Fontecchio added 11 of his 17 points after halftime as Detroit’s reserves totaled 50 points. Marcus Sasser contributed 15 on five 3-pointers as part of Detroit’s strong bench showing.
Cade Cunningham chipped in 13 points in 23 minutes ahead of the second night of a back-to-back against the visiting Golden State Warriors on Thursday. Tim Hardaway Jr. finished with 10 points as the Pistons shot 52.3 percent and hit 15 treys.
Already missing Cam Thomas (hamstring) and Cameron Johnson (ankle), the Nets were without 10 players, including D’Angelo Russell (shin), Ben Simmons (back injury management) and Day’Ron Sharpe (illness).
Noah Clowney scored a career-best 29 points for the Nets, who dropped their seventh straight home game and lost for the 14th time in 18 games. Nic Claxton added 14 points, Tosan Evbuomwan contributed 13, and Tyrese Martin finished with 12 and 10 rebounds.
Brooklyn shot 38.4 percent and was held under 100 points for the 10th time this season.
The Pistons held an early 11-point lead and settled for a 27-25 lead through the opening quarter. A basket by Claxton moved the Nets within 43-41 with 5:34 remaining in the second period before Detroit scored 12 straight points en route to a 59-49 halftime lead.
Brooklyn hung around in the opening minutes of the third, getting within 70-64 on a dunk by Clowney, but Detroit scored nine straight points and ended the third on a 21-6 run to lead 91-70 going into the fourth.
Detroit finished it off when Fontecchio, Beasley and Sasser hit triples on three straight possessions to push the lead to 100-75 with 8:49 remaining.
–Field Level Media
