When you release a player after a 5-23 start to the season, you have to expect there to be some growing pains, especially when the player you acquired was supposed to be an upgrade from what you previously had on the roster. Fast forward 3 games and the Detroit Pistons have never player better and continued their season high 3 game winning streak by defeating the Orlando Magic, 109-86.
Jodie Meeks scored 34 points off the bench, shooting 9 for 11 on 3-pointers, and Andre Drummond added 17 points and 22 rebounds. D.J. Augustin came off the bench to score 11 points and dish out 10 assists.
Since the release of Josh Smith, Drummond has been unleashed by the team. He’s averaging 17.6 points per game, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks along with shooting 66% from the field. Looks like great things might come for the Pistons in 2015. Drummond, the NBA’s No. 2 rebounder at 12.8 per game, sat out the final 14 minutes after coming within 3 rebounds of the league’s season high.
Victor Oladipo led the Magic with 16 points. Tobias Harris added 15 points and eight rebounds. Nikola Vucevic only scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, well below his season lows.
After Meeks made all 6 of his 3’s in the second quarter and scored 20 points in the period, the Pistons opened an 18-point lead in the third. The Magic never got the deficit under 9 after that.
Pistons have won 3 straight for the first time since February last season.
Detroit Pistons are 8-23. Orlando Magic are 13-22.
Full game highlights.
