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Stuckey leads Pistons over Kings

Nov 15, 2010 - 6:52 AM Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Rodney Stuckey finished with 17 points and seven assists, as the Detroit Pistons edged the Sacramento Kings, 100-94, to continue recovering from their early season blues.

Ben Gordon had 16 points off the bench for the Pistons, who dropped the first five games of the season. But since then, they have won four of five, including the last two on the road.

Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton ended with 14 and 13 points, respectively, in the victory.

"Winning is a cure-all, man, cures everything," said Pistons center Ben Wallace. "Meal not tasting right? Get a win, tastes a little bit better. If you don't like your teammates, get a win, you'll like 'em a little bit more."

Tyreke Evans had 20 points to pace the Kings, who have lost five in a row. Carl Landry ended with 19 points and eight boards.

"When I watch the Pistons play, I look at their talent and the way they play, I think they're a playoff team in the East. I don't think there's much doubt about it," said Kings head coach Paul Westphal. "They played really well, they shot the ball incredibly well, and they hit big shots."

The Pistons held a small lead coming down the stretch, and a Prince jumper with 1:02 left made it a 96-92 game. However, at the other end, Francisco Garcia's long two-pointer had Sacramento within a possession.

But Gordon countered with a three-pointer with 23.9 on the clock, as Detroit held on.

The Pistons held a 22-19 lead after 12 minutes, thanks to eight points apiece from Hamilton and Stuckey.

Detroit was in front throughout the second quarter, leading by as many as nine before taking a 50-45 edge into the break.

Sacramento tied it twice in the third, including when Evans' layup made it a 63-63 game with 5:04 left. But Hamilton and Prince followed with baskets, and the Pistons held a 75-72 edge moving to the fourth.

Detroit's Charlie Villanueva opened the final period with five consecutive points, but the Kings kept it close with buckets from DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson.

Game Notes

Villanueva ended with 11 points...Luther Head and Thompson had 13 and 10 points, respectively, off the Kings' bench...The Pistons shot 53.9 percent, compared to 45.3 percent for the Kings, who took 10 more shots...Sacramento made just 2-of-18 three-pointers and 14-of-21 foul shots.