Pistons top Jazz 92-87, improve to 2-0 on season
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Reggie Jackson put Detroit ahead on a driving layup with 17 seconds left, and the Pistons held on to beat the Utah Jazz 92-87 on Wednesday night for their second consecutive victory to start the season.
It's the first time the Pistons have been two games over .500 since they were 33-31 in March of 2009, according to STATS.
The Jazz, playing their season opener, scored seven consecutive points late in the fourth quarter and took an 87-86 lead on Gordon Hayward's driving bank shot with 23 seconds to play. After a timeout, Jackson got to the basket quickly and scored to put Detroit ahead to stay.
Andre Drummond had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, going 8 of 11 on free throws.
After Jackson put Detroit up 88-87, Alec Burks missed a jumper for Utah, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made two free throws to put the Pistons ahead by three. Rodney Hood then had a tying 3-point attempt blocked by Caldwell-Pope.
The Pistons were coming off an impressive win at Atlanta, and they looked like they were in good shape when they took an 86-80 lead on Jackson's 3-pointer with 3:32 remaining. Utah then rallied behind a couple jumpers by Burks.
Jackson had 19 points and Caldwell-Pope added 16. Marcus Morris scored 14 for the Pistons.
Derrick Favors led Utah with 26 points, and Burks finished with 18.
Drummond shot 39 percent from the line last season, so it was an encouraging sign for Detroit when he made all six of his free throws in the first half, looking comfortable while doing it. With 4:42 remaining in the game, Drummond made two foul shots to put the Pistons ahead 83-78.
Detroit was up 16-15 after the first quarter and trailed 44-41 at the half. The Pistons scored the first six points of the third.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Utah was without F Trevor Booker, who was suspended for this game because of an altercation with the Los Angeles Lakers' Roy Hibbert in a preseason game. ... The Jazz had won 17 of their previous 19 against Detroit.
Pistons: Detroit G Jodie Meeks left with a fracture in his right foot. ... Rookie Stanley Johnson had 11 points and five rebounds.
UP NEXT
Jazz: Play at Philadelphia on Friday night, part of a three-game road trip to start the season.
Pistons: Host Chicago on Friday night.