CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Forward Greg Monroe had 23 points and 12 rebounds in less than three quarters of action, and guards D.J. Augustin and Jodie Meeks scored 18 each as the Detroit Pistons rolled to a 106-78 victory over the short-handed Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.
The Pistons dominated the second and third quarters, outscoring Charlotte 28-19 in the second and 29-14 in the third. They eventually led by 23 points going into the fourth and pushed the margin up to as many as 31 in the fourth.
Detroit (21-32) has now won four of its last six.
For Monroe, it was his third double-double in his last six games and his 25th this season. The Pistons also got 16 points from forward Anthony Tolliver, and 14 points from center Andre Drummond. Drummond finished with nine rebounds to come up just shy of his sixth straight double-double.
The Pistons shot 44.6 percent from the field and were 27 of 30 from the free throw line.
The Hornets (22-30) suited up just 10 players. They traded guard Gary Neal to Minnesota on Tuesday afternoon along with a 2019 second-round pick for guards Mo Williams and Troy Daniels, and they waived guard Elliot Williams. They were also without guard Kemba Walker (left knee surgery), center Bismack Biyombo (right knee contusion) and forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (right hamstring strain).
Charlotte has now lost three straight.
Guard Gerald Henderson led the Hornets with 17 points. Guard P.J. Hairston scored 16, but center Al Jefferson, who had 30 points and 13 rebounds in a loss to Indiana on Sunday, was held to 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte shot just 35.8 percent from the field.
NOTES: This was the first of four meetings between the teams this season. The Hornets swept a three-game series with the Pistons last season. … The Pistons have lost G Brandon Jennings (ruptured left Achilles) for the remainder of the season. They were also without F Cartier Martin (right ankle sprain) and F Caron Butler (back spasms). … After replacing Jennings in the starting lineup on Jan. 25, Pistons G D.J. Augustin averaged 20.4 points and 8.9 assists in his first eight games. He had been averaging 8.1 points and 4.0 assists in 41 games coming off the bench. … Hornets coach Steve Clifford was an assistant to Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy in Orlando from 2007 to 2012. … The Pistons will return home to face San Antonio on Wednesday. … Pistons C Andre Drummond came into the game second in the NBA in rebounding at 13.0. … The Hornets were coming off a 103-102 home loss to Indiana on Sunday night when they blew a 21-point lead in the second half. … The Hornets continue to lead the NBA in fewest turnovers, averaging 11.8. … The Hornets are off through the All-Star break. Their next game won’t be until Feb. 21 at home against Oklahoma City.