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If it bleeds, we can kill it.
The Detroit Pistons won their fourth straight on Friday night in what was not at all a fight. In fact, it was a one-sided bloodbath through three. (I thought the above GIF MFMP used in the GameThread to recap the third quarter was apt.)
The game was one ugly MFer in the first quarter with five turnovers and nine misses in the first four minutes. Slack-jawed Jason Smith took a pass off the face during that time. The Pistons only led 24-20 after the quarter despite the Knicks being without Carmelo Anthony, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Amar'e Stoudemire.
Second and third quarters? Knock-knock.
The Pistons outscored the Knicks 58-32 in the second and third behind the swag of Brandon Jennings, who said "you fall behind, you're on your own." Jennings came on with 54 seconds left in the second quarter, scored a couple quick buckets and then followed it up in the third with 16 points on his way to a game-high 29 points (a step off from 30). The Knicks scored 14 in the third.
The Pistons led by 19 at the half and 30 points going into the fourth quarter. Jodie Meeks and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each scored eight in the second quarter to help extend the lead. It was all Jennings in the third.
The Knicks are a sad, sad team. It's hard to believe that the Pistons and Knicks were separated by only three wins before the game. They looked like two completely different teams going in completely different directions. They are.
The Pistons get to the choppa and head home to host the Kings on Sunday for a legitimate shot at five in a row and their 10th win of the season.
QUICK BULLETS:
-- Andre Drummond grabbed 20 rebounds, but only scored seven points. He also had three steals and four assists.
-- Meeks had 15 points off the bench.
-- D.J. Augustin had nine assists, several on some great finds, but he over-dribbled into five turnovers, too.
-- Joel Anthony had another two blocks late, adding to the four swats he had the other night in Orlando.
Roll Call: