AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Andre Drummond bounced back from two subpar performances with 25 points and 18 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons topped the Philadelphia 76ers 110-97 on Wednesday night at The Palace.
Drummond, who had 11 points and 14 rebounds in his previous two outings combined, tossed in 17 points during the second half. The fourth-year center collected his league-high 38th double-double.
Point guard Reggie Jackson supplied 27 points for the Pistons (25-21) while rookie small forward Stanley Johnson contributed 18 points.
Second-year power forward Jerami Grant’s career-high 21 points and eight rebounds led the Sixers (7-40), who won three of their previous five games. Center Nerlens Noel had 20 points and seven rebounds while point guard Ish Smith added 13 points and six assists.
The Sixers played their second straight game without starting center Jahlil Okafor and shooting guard JaKarr Sampson, who remained in Philadelphia because of illnesses.
The teams’ big men went at each other frequently in the third quarter. Drummond compiled 12 points and six rebounds while Noel scored eight points. Philadelphia used a 12-3 spurt — featuring a four-point play by backup point guard Isaiah Canaan — late in the quarter to take a seven-point lead.
Philadelphia was still up 79-74 as the fourth quarter began. When Grant threw down a thunderous dunk over Pistons reserve center Aron Baynes, the Sixers led 84-78. Johnson then sparked a 13-4 Detroit run, finished off by Jackson’s 3-pointer off a Johnson pass, to give Detroit a 91-88 edge.
Drummond’s tip-in with 3:26 remaining lifted the Pistons to a 95-90 advantage. Jackson’s 3-pointer with 1:33 left iced Detroit’s win.
Detroit came out lethargic and tied its season low for points in a quarter in the opening period. It trailed 20-12 after the first but sliced the Sixers’ lead to one, 45-44, by halftime. Jackson had 15 points by the break, including a banked-in 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.
NOTES: Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy believes C Andre Drummond’s troubles at the free-throw line are affecting other aspects of his game. Drummond made just 1 of 15 free throws the previous two games and is shooting a league-worst 34.7 percent from the line. “He needs to keep his focus on the things he does really, really well and not get caught up in the one thing he’s struggling with,” Van Gundy said. … Philadelphia reserve PF Elton Brand did not make the trip because of personal reasons. … The Pistons won four of the last five meetings at The Palace. … The Sixers have used 24 lineups this season, 22 more than the Pistons. … Philadelphia PG Ish Smith is averaging 8.2 assists in his first 15 games with the team since being reacquired from New Orleans. … Detroit faces Eastern Conference leader Cleveland on Friday and the Sixers play host to Western Conference leader Golden State on Saturday.