Detroit, MI- With a new scoreboard making its debut at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Pistons were hoping to earn their first win of the season in front of a sellout crowd. Sadly the result was the same as first two games as the Pistons lost their third straight game to start the season to the Brooklyn Nets, 102-90. Nets guard scored 17 of his game high 34 points in the fourth quarter and Kevin Garnett posted a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Nets. Pistons forward Greg Monroe made his season debut for Detroit and scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while coming off the bench. Brandon Jennings chipped in with 18 points to go along with his nine assists. The Pistons, who were one of the worst teams in three-point shooting a season ago, are shooting 21 percent through three games. Josh Smith who is in the second year of a four year $56 million contract has struggled to start the season. Smith who is a career 27 percent three-point shooter has yet to make one from long range this season.
Pistons center Andre Drummond scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Detroit, but once again foul trouble caused him to sit out key stretches of the game and Brooklyn took full advantage of that. Brooklyn won the rebounding battle 48-41 and made more effort on getting the loose balls that lead to second chance points for the Nets. The Nets shot 48 percent from the floor while the Pistons shot just 41 percent. The big stat of the night was that the Pistons got to the free-throw line more than Brooklyn, shooting 25-35 from the charity stripe. One key stretch during the first half of the game was the matchup nightmare for Pistons forward Kyle Singler guarding Nets guard Deron Williams. Williams was able to have his way with Singler by using a barrage of crossovers to score four straight jumpers.
Defense has been the Pistons Achilles Heel this season, letting teams shoot an average of 45 percent from the floor through the first three games. It won’t get any easier for the Pistons as they welcome Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks to the Palace this Wednesday. The Knicks already have an impressive road win this season by defeating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on their opening night. The Pistons will again be without guard Jodie Meeks who is recovering from back surgery and forward Cartier Martin is also recovering from an unspecified injury.
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