Detroit Pistons vs. Charlotte Hornets Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE
The Detroit Pistons snapped a four-game road losing streak with a 129-123 overtime victory at Minnesota on Wednesday and will try to make it back-to-back victories when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. One of those four consecutive road losses came at Charlotte on Dec. 12, when the Pistons dropped a 108-107 heartbreaker.
Detroit looked ready for a fifth straight road setback while trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter on Wednesday, but star forward Blake Griffin scored 18 of his 34 points in the fourth to force overtime and help pull out the win. "We were down 14 in that fourth quarter and coach (Dwane) Casey was like, 'What do you guys want to do? You want to pack it up or do you want to win this game?'" Pistons center Andre Drummond told reporters. "We buckled down defensively, made shots offensively, but most importantly we were having fun again." The Hornets began a five-game homestand with that Dec. 12 victory over Detroit and knocked off Cleveland 110-99 on Wednesday to give themselves a chance at a winning record on the homestand after falling to New York and the Los Angeles Lakers. "We needed fewer different lineups on the floor, more consistency in our lineups and I went with it," Charlotte coach James Borrego told reporters of the change Wednesday from the previous two games. "Whether we do that moving forward, we'll see, but I felt good about the rotations tonight and that group produced."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Southeast (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (15-14): Griffin buried 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter and finished 13-of-22 from the floor in 42 minutes despite dealing with the flu earlier in the day. "He gave it everything," Casey told reporters. "Here's a guy who had IVs and everything throughout the day cause of the flu; he gave it everything. I mean he hit some big three's when he was trying to fight back and scratch back, but he played a hell of a game to be sick." Drummond - a career 17.6-percent 3-point shooter - knocked down a 3-pointer at the end of a broken possession in overtime and finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (15-15): Charlotte star guard Kemba Walker broke out for 30 points on 11-of-26 shooting in Wednesday's win after totaling 20 points on 8-of-33 in the previous two contests. "I was just being aggressive and trying not to get too frustrated," Walker told reporters. "I've been missing a lot and been a little bit off shooting the basketball. I just wanted to stay aggressive, trust in my work and tonight some shots fell. It wasn't the best night shooting, but I'll take the win any way I can get it." Backcourt mate Jeremy Lamb added 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the victory.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pistons SG Reggie Bullock scored a career-high 33 points on Wednesday.
2. Hornets PF Marvin Williams recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday after going scoreless in Saturday's loss to the Lakers.
3. Charlotte is enjoying a four-game winning streak in the series.
PREDICTION: Pistons 109, Hornets 105
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE
The Detroit Pistons snapped a four-game road losing streak with a 129-123 overtime victory at Minnesota on Wednesday and will try to make it back-to-back victories when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. One of those four consecutive road losses came at Charlotte on Dec. 12, when the Pistons dropped a 108-107 heartbreaker.
Detroit looked ready for a fifth straight road setback while trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter on Wednesday, but star forward Blake Griffin scored 18 of his 34 points in the fourth to force overtime and help pull out the win. "We were down 14 in that fourth quarter and coach (Dwane) Casey was like, 'What do you guys want to do? You want to pack it up or do you want to win this game?'" Pistons center Andre Drummond told reporters. "We buckled down defensively, made shots offensively, but most importantly we were having fun again." The Hornets began a five-game homestand with that Dec. 12 victory over Detroit and knocked off Cleveland 110-99 on Wednesday to give themselves a chance at a winning record on the homestand after falling to New York and the Los Angeles Lakers. "We needed fewer different lineups on the floor, more consistency in our lineups and I went with it," Charlotte coach James Borrego told reporters of the change Wednesday from the previous two games. "Whether we do that moving forward, we'll see, but I felt good about the rotations tonight and that group produced."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Southeast (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (15-14): Griffin buried 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter and finished 13-of-22 from the floor in 42 minutes despite dealing with the flu earlier in the day. "He gave it everything," Casey told reporters. "Here's a guy who had IVs and everything throughout the day cause of the flu; he gave it everything. I mean he hit some big three's when he was trying to fight back and scratch back, but he played a hell of a game to be sick." Drummond - a career 17.6-percent 3-point shooter - knocked down a 3-pointer at the end of a broken possession in overtime and finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (15-15): Charlotte star guard Kemba Walker broke out for 30 points on 11-of-26 shooting in Wednesday's win after totaling 20 points on 8-of-33 in the previous two contests. "I was just being aggressive and trying not to get too frustrated," Walker told reporters. "I've been missing a lot and been a little bit off shooting the basketball. I just wanted to stay aggressive, trust in my work and tonight some shots fell. It wasn't the best night shooting, but I'll take the win any way I can get it." Backcourt mate Jeremy Lamb added 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the victory.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pistons SG Reggie Bullock scored a career-high 33 points on Wednesday.
2. Hornets PF Marvin Williams recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday after going scoreless in Saturday's loss to the Lakers.
3. Charlotte is enjoying a four-game winning streak in the series.
PREDICTION: Pistons 109, Hornets 105