“First half, I didn’t really think he played with great energy, but I thought the second half he played with a lot more energy and was productive”. Since Stan Van Gundy took over the Detroit Pistons last season, Atlanta has struggled with the Pistons both on the glass and out on the perimeter defensively. “We’re seeing that in practice. It’s nice to see him bring it into the game”. “We should introduce the whole team and then it wouldn’t even be an issue”.
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■What happened: When the game got tight the offense got sloppy, but the Pistons managed to overcome their mistakes to go 2-0 to open the season.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (2014-15: 38-44): Point guard Trey Burke has been underwhelming over his first two seasons but has regained his starting job due to the season-ending knee injury Dante Exum suffered during the summer. 500 since 2009, when they improved to 33-31 in the month of March. Morris had a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds while Ilyasova hit three 3-pointers on the way to 16 points.
Jackson shook off a slow start to finish with 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting and his triple with 3:34 left looked like it might finish off the Jazz, playing its season opener.
“We need time to get back into a good rhythm”, Millsap said. We get a lot of teams’ A games.
Marcus Morris, 14 points, and Stanley Johnson, 11 points, were the only other Pistons in double figures.
Detroit shot poorly throughout the first half, making just nine field goals with 5:09 left in the first half and falling behind, 34-27.
They trailed by 10 early, battled their way back and led by as many five points before halftime.
Toronto has won two straight home openers to stand 12-8 overall. Owner Tom Gores spoke to reporters before the game and was asked if renovations at the Palace meant the team wouldn’t be moving to downtown Detroit any time soon. “I actually told the players myself that, ‘Look, I started a company when I was very young.’ And everybody said, ‘Well, geez, you’re too young to start a company.’ And it’s just like being too young to win a championship”.
NOTES: Utah PF Trevor Booker served his one-game league suspension for striking Lakers center Roy Hibbert during a preseason game.
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The Pistons defended their home court against a rough and tumble Jazz team, hanging on for a 92-87 win.
