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Monroe, Pistons handle Bucks in Milwaukee

Jan 12, 2013 - 6:33 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Greg Monroe scored a game-high 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting and ripped down 11 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons used a huge third quarter to top the Milwaukee Bucks, 103-87, on Friday at Bradley Center.

Brandon Knight netted 20 points and handed out five assists, while Jason Maxiell added 10 points and seven boards for the Pistons, who have won five of their last six contests. Kyle Singler donated 10 points in the victory.

Brandon Jennings struggled from the floor for Milwaukee, shooting just 5-of-13 for 15 points, while Beno Udrih also scored 15 as the Bucks' two-game winning streak came to an end. Monta Ellis added 13 points and five assists in a losing cause.

Trailing 49-41 at halftime, the Pistons exploded in the third quarter to take control of the game for good.

Monroe hit a pair of free throws on the visitors' first offensive possession of the half to ignite a 23-5 outburst, which was capped by a pair of Knight free throws to make it 64-54 with 3:13 to play in the stanza.

Milwaukee cut it to single digits twice, but the Pistons' lead reached 16 on a Charlie Villanueva trey with 49.9 ticks left as they held Milwaukee to just 11 points in the frame and took a 74-60 advantage into the fourth quarter.

"It was our third game in four nights, and it seemed like our legs got a little heavy in the third quarter," Bucks interim head coach Jim Boylan said.

The Bucks never recovered as Detroit was set to cruise control in the fourth, leading by as many as 21 en route to the easy triumph.

"This is a big win. They were hot coming in," Monroe said. "We took care of business."

After a tightly played first quarter which featured five ties and four lead changes, the visitors held a 25-20 advantage.

A trey by Villanueva early in the second quarter put the Pistons up 30-26, but the Bucks responded with a 16-1 rally to take a comfortable 42-31 advantage with 3:39 to play before halftime.

Milwaukee maintained at least a two-possession lead for the rest of the half and went into the locker room with a 49-41 cushion.

Game Notes

Detroit has won thee of the last four meetings between the teams and improved to 4-14 on the road this season ... The game featured six lead changes and five ties ... Detroit shot 43.3 percent from the field, while holding the Bucks to just 39.6 percent ... Milwaukee also shot a paltry 1-for-16 from three-point range ... Detroit posted 20 fast break points against 13 for Milwaukee ... Detroit will begin a four-game homestand on Saturday against the Utah Jazz, while Milwaukee will travel to Toronto to battle the Raptors on Sunday.