Final
Meeks' sharp shooting carries Pistons over Magic
Dec 31, 2014 - 7:04 AM Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jodie Meeks scored 20 of his 34 points in the second quarter and made a career-high nine 3-pointers to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 109-86 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.Andre Drummond contributed 17 points and 22 rebounds, and D.J. Augustin added 11 points and 10 assists off the bench.
Detroit has won three straight games, all of which coming without forward Josh Smith, who was released and has since signed with the Houston Rockets.
The Pistons set a franchise record with 17 triples in a win over Cleveland on Sunday, then registered 14 shots from beyond in this one, led by the 9-of-11 effort from Meeks.
Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy returned to Orlando after spending five seasons leading the Magic, highlighted by a trip to the NBA Finals in 2008-09. He took the past two years off before accepting the position in Detroit.
"Our bench turned it around in the second quarter and then I thought our starters did a better job in the third," Van Gundy said.
Victor Oladipo led the Magic with 16 points and Tobias Harris deposited 15, while Nikola Vucevic had 10 points and five rebounds.
"We need production from our guys every single night to get the win," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn. "They made shots."
Orlando led for a majority of the first quarter and brought a 21-20 lead into the second. Meeks then got hot in the second, scoring 11 straight Detroit points at one juncture, including three consecutive 3-pointers. His 3-point barrage spearheaded a 13-6 run that Drummond capped with a dunk to give the Pistons a 46-37 edge.
The Magic closed to within three minutes later after an Elfrid Payton layup. However, Meeks and Anthony Tolliver both knocked down a 3 around a Vucevic jumper to help Detroit to a 54-47 lead at the break.
After Oladipo hit a pair of free throws to open the third quarter, the Pistons embarked on a 20-7 run that Brandon Jennings capped with a trey at 3:47.
The Pistons led by as many as 18 in the quarter, but a 14-4 run from Orlando closed its gap to eight prior to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's jumper that made it an 80-70 game entering the fourth.
Detroit kept it moving in the fourth, opening the frame on a 10-3 run during which Meeks supplied eight straight points.
Game Notes
Joe Dumars set the Pistons record with 10 3-pointers in a game (1994) ... Detroit scored 21 points off 16 turnovers ... The Pistons had a 20-7 edge on the fastbreak and outrebounded the Magic 54-42.
- End of the 4th Quarter
Dec 30 9:16 PM - DETROIT: 80
ORLANDO: 70
End of 3rd
Dec 30 8:47 PM - DETROIT: 80
ORLANDO: 70
End of 3rd
Dec 30 8:46 PM - DETROIT: 54
ORLANDO: 47
Halftime
Dec 30 8:01 PM - DETROIT: 54
ORLANDO: 47
Halftime
Dec 30 8:01 PM - DETROIT: 20
ORLANDO: 21
End of 1st
Dec 30 7:32 PM - DETROIT: 0
ORLANDO: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Dec 30 7:10 PM
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