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Pistons finally break into win column, down Bobcats

Nov 6, 2010 - 5:59 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Ben Gordon finished with 20 points and Richard Hamilton added 16 points, including 11-of-11 from the foul line, as the Detroit Pistons clinched their first win of the season, 97-90, over the Charlotte Bobcats at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Tayshaun Prince had 14 points, and Charlie Villanueva and Tracy McGrady both added 10 points in the win for Detroit, which came into Friday's game with their worst start in 30 years at 0-5.

Stephen Jackson led the way with 28 points on 12-of-19 from the field and D.J. Augustin added 12 points and eight assists for the Bobcats, who have lost nine of their last 11 at Detroit.

"It feels good to finally get a win," said Gordon. "I'm still not happy with the way we're playing, but its something to build off of. We've just got to continue to work."

The Pistons started the game on a 16-4 run, highlighted by back-to-back three- pointers from Austin Daye, and shot 13-of-20 from the field to take a commanding, 32-15, lead after 12 minutes of play.

Gordon and Prince each had 10 in the half as they Pistons took a 55-39 lead heading to the locker room.

Charlotte started the third on a 17-4 run, that included four from beyond-the- arc, two from Jackson, to cut the Pistons lead to 59-56 with 4 1/2 remaining. The Bobcats continued to trim Detroit's lead in the final minutes of the third but the Pistons countered each time.

Derrick Brown hit a running layup to cut the lead to 61-60 with 2:58 remaining but the Pistons closed out the third on a 11-4 run, highlight by two Villanueva three pointers, to take a 72-64 advantage heading into the final stanza.

"We had too many turnovers," said Bobcats head coach Larry Brown. "The end of the third quarter really killed us."

The Pistons surged in the opening minutes of the fourth to gain an 83-72 lead. Bobcats head coach Larry Brown received a technical foul while arguing a Shaun Livingston foul at 8:02 and the emotion from Brown ignited the Bobcats as they began to cut into the margin.

Augustin hit a three with 1:25 remaining to get the visitors within 88-85, but Hamilton hit a running layup and converted the three-point play to keep the Detroit lead at six.

Charlotte attempted one last surge, but the Pistons hit on 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final 28.5 seconds of the game to seal the win.

The Pistons hit on 26-of-27 from the free throw line.

Game Notes

The Bobcats won last season's series 2-1...Daye finished with eight points on 3-of-6 from the field...The Pistons didn't trail for any of the 48 minutes...Detroit has won nine of the last 12 meetings...Hamilton had 10 points in the fourth...Rookie Greg Monroe finished with nine points and six rebounds for Detroit.