Superb Rodney Stuckey helps Detroit Pistons edge out Los Angeles Lakers 88 – 85 in overtime – NBA Recap
A terrific game went Detroit Pistons way here at the Palace of Auburn Hills when they hosted the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. The Pistons battled the Lakers into overtime and finally pulled out a splendid 88 – 85 win that would do the franchise a world
of good.
Rodney Stuckey was the undoubted hero tonight for the Pistons as the guard pounded a game high 34 points. His scoring ability kept the Pistons in the game against their most illustrious opponents and they cashed in at the end.
"I'm just reading what the defence is doing. I know when I get the ball off a miss, my mindset is to push it as fast as I can while the defence is not set. That allows me to get to the basket and get fouled or something like that." Rodney said.
Ben Gordon was another Pistons guard to impress, scoring 15, grabbing 5 boards and dishing out 5 assists. Tayshaun Prince scored 10 points, so did Jason Maxiell, who also had 10 rebounds. Greg Monroe grabbed 15 boards but only had 2 points.
Prince explained that the Pistons strategy revolved around slowing down the Lakers and hitting them on the break.
"The way the Lakers play a lot of times, if you pick up your energy and get a couple of fast-break baskets, you can get back in the game. They're a very patient team on offense, so if you create turnovers and don't let their bigs get offensive rebounds,
you can get out on the break and get a flow going."
For the Lakers, Andrew Bynum was massive. The centre had a double-double performance comprising 30 points and 14 rebounds. Bynum led the Lakers in both points scored as well as rebounds collected.
Kobe Bryant scored 22 but he was wasteful, connecting on only 8-of-26 from the field and he had 7 assists. Pau Gasol scored 20, grabbed 10 boards and dished out 6 assists.
Lakers got off to the better start, going on an 8 – 2 run from jump ball. They used an 8 – 0 burst to get the lead into double digits, 16 – 6, and remained in the ascendency for the rest of the first quarter, finishing at 24 – 17.
Their good work however was undone in the second frame as the home side charged back into the game. Detroit’s offence seemed to click in the segment and they piled on 28 points, Los Angeles just managing 17 in return. The Pistons thus led going into halftime
at 45 – 41.
The back and forth continued throughout the second half; leading to a very tense end to the 4th quarter. Stuckey hit a clutch three right at the death to give Pistons a 78 – 76 advantage, but Kobe hit a buzzer beater to take the game into overtime.
The home team had the edge in OT. Stuckey sank some freebies under pressure and Bryant wasn’t able to repeat his heroics, handing Pistons the win.
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