LOS ANGELES — Detroit celebrated former Pistons great Ben Wallace Saturday with a win over the NBA’s current best, handing the Golden State Warriors just their fourth defeat of the season.
The Pistons beat the Warriors 113-95, Golden State’s second defeat in three games and a perfect ending for Detroit fans to a night that saw their club retire four-time defensive player of the year Wallace’s number three jersey in their Palace at Auburn Hills arena at halftime.
Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 20 points apiece and Detroit led by double digits throughout the second half.
Jackson added eight assists and Caldwell-Pope had five rebounds and three steals.
Center Andre Drummond produced his league-leading 34th double-double with 14 points and 21 rebounds, unfazed by the trash-talking of Warriors power forward Draymond Green.
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player and the league’s leading scorer, delivered on cue with 38 points, five assists and seven rebounds.
But the rest of the Warriors offered little support.
Shooting guard Klay Thompson scored 24 points, but Green was held to five — 10 below his average.
The Warriors are 37-4 at the midway point of the regular season with a tough NBA Finals rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers coming up Monday.
Kings 110, Clippers 103: DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as the Sacramento Kings snapped the Los Angeles Clippers’ 10-game winning streak with a 110-103 victory at Staples Center.
Rudy Gay had 18 points and seven rebounds, while Omri Casspi and Darren Collison came off the bench to add 17 points apiece for the Kings (17-23). Ben McLemore and Rajon Rondo had 15 and 13 points.
Hawks 114, Nets 86: Paul Millsap scored 21 points and sparked a big third-quarter for Atlanta as the Hawks beat the Brooklyn Nets 114-86.
Millsap scored nine in the third quarter when Atlanta went on a 29-13 run to regain control after squandering a seven-point halftime lead.
Bucks 105, Hornets 92: Khris Middleton scored 24 points and the Milwaukee Bucks completed an impressive weekend sweep with a 105-92 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
A night after beating Atlanta at home in overtime, the Bucks sliced the Hornets’ defense apart and shot 54.2 percent. They were also 22 of 26 (84.6 percent) from the free-throw line.
76ers 114, Trail Blazers 89: Jahlil Okafor scored 17 of his 25 points in the first quarter as the fast-starting Philadelphia 76ers routed the Portland Trail Blazers 114-89.
Okafor made 12 of 16 field-goal attempts and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Sixers, the NBA’s worst team (5-37).
Celtics 119, Wizards 117: Isaiah Thomas scored 32 points and Jae Crowder’s game-winning basket with 3.9 seconds left capped the Boston Celtics’ thrilling 119-117 victory over the Washington Wizards.
John Wall scored a season-high 36 points for the Wizards but missed a potential tying layup at the buzzer after racing full court following Crowder’s basket.
Grizzlies 103, Knicks 95: Marc Gasol scored 37 points and Jeff Green added 18 off the bench to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 103-95 victory over the New York Knicks at FedExForum.
The victory was the fifth straight by the Grizzlies over the Knicks, who were playing without injured leading scorer Carmelo Anthony. Kristaps Porzingis led the Knicks with 17 points and reserve forward Kyle O’Quinn scored 15.
Jazz 109, Lakers 82: Rudy Gobert had his best game since returning from a knee injury and the Utah Jazz cruised to a 109-82 blowout of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Gobert finished with 18 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots for the Jazz. It was his sixth game back from an 18-game absence in December and January with a sprained knee. — Agencies
