The Sports Xchange
Dec 17, 2017
DETROIT -- Reggie Bullock scored a career-high 20 points, and the Detroit Pistons held off a late surge by the undermanned Orlando Magic to claim a 114-110 win on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.
Bullock, who was inserted into the starting lineup four games ago, made 8 of 10 field-goal attempts. His previous scoring high was 17 points last season, also against the Magic.
Tobias Harris, Reggie Jackson and Anthony Tolliver scored 17 points apiece for the Pistons, who have won three straight following a seven-game losing streak.
Andre Drummond contributed 12 points for Detroit, which led by 24 in the fourth quarter but gave up 19 unanswered points before holding on.
The Pistons (17-13) tied their franchise high with 17 3-pointers. They connected on half of their 34 attempts. The Magic shot 17-for-33 from long range.
Detroit's starting shooting guard, Avery Bradley, missed his second consecutive game due to a right adductor strain.
Forward Mario Hezonja scored a career-high 28 points for Orlando, which has dropped five straight. Nikola Vucevic supplied 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Jonathon Simmons had 23 points for the Magic (11-20).
Both of Orlando's leading scorers missed the game. Forward Aaron Gordon was sidelined because of a calf strain, while guard Evan Fournier sat out for the fifth consecutive game with a right ankle sprain.
The Pistons raced to a 60-43 halftime lead behind Harris and Bullock, who combined for 26 points. Detroit scored 36 first-quarter points, equaling its season high for that quarter.
Vucevic notched a double-double by halftime, posting 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pistons led by 19 early in the third. Orlando closed within 11 on four occasions before the Pistons stretched the lead once again with a 14-3 spurt. Bullock finished it off with a layup and a 3-pointer, establishing his career high with the latter bucket.
Detroit carried a 96-79 lead into the fourth quarter. The Pistons led 105-81 with seven minutes remaining when the Magic suddenly stormed back. When Simmons made a layup with 2:40 left, Detroit's lead was down to five at 105-100.
Harris finally broke the Pistons' scoring drought with 1:21 remaining on a layup. The Magic never got closer than five points until Hezonja's buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
NOTES: Orlando rookie PF Jonathan Isaac returned after missing 17 games because of a sprained right ankle. "He can miss two months and go out there and use his length defensively or contain and block and contest shots," coach Frank Vogel said. Isaac had one point in 16 minutes. ... Detroit C Andre Drummond, the league's leading rebounder, grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 27 of the team's 30 games. He had just six on Sunday. ... Magic C Bismack Biyombo recorded his 700th career block. ... The Magic have used 12 different lineups this season. ... Orlando took three of four from Detroit last season. The teams meet again in Orlando on Dec. 28 and March 2.