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Samuels leads Cavs past Pistons

Dec 29, 2011 - 5:31 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Samardo Samuels had 17 points to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 105-89 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Top overall pick Kyrie Irving had 14 points and seven assists and Antawn Jamison added 15 points for the Cavaliers, who dropped their opener at home against Toronto on Monday.

"We were so much better on the defensive end," said Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott. "When you play defense as well as we did tonight, it makes the offensive end that much easier."

Ben Gordon scored 25 points and Brandon Knight added 23 points to go with six assists for the Pistons, who lost their opener in Indiana on Monday.

"It's early, it's only the second game of the season," said Gordon. "But we're not taking these two losses for granted. With the way this season is, you have to have a short memory and put the bad ones behind you."

Cleveland had a pair of 8-0 runs in the first quarter, but Detroit was able to respond each time and seven straight points saw the team cut the deficit to two, 25-23, after 12 minutes.

However, Detroit shot just 6-for-18 in the second quarter, allowing the Cavaliers to take a 50-39 lead into the locker room. Irving scored eight points in the frame and had two assists.

The Pistons scored nine of the first 11 points of the third quarter to get back into the game, but the Cavs answered and Jamison's three-pointer with under seven minutes to play saw the team go back up by double-digits, 63-51.

Detroit again got it back to six points after Tayshaun Prince's jumper made it a 74-68 game, but Cleveland scored the next five points and took a 79-69 lead into the final frame.

The Pistons hung around in the early part of the fourth, but a jumper from Samuels followed by an Alonzo Gee bucket made it a 93-76 game with 6 1/2 minutes to play and Detroit never challenged from there.

Game Notes

Cleveland shot a blistering 57.1 percent and dominated the boards, 40-26...Cleveland plays in Indiana on Friday...Detroit plays in Boston on Friday...These teams split four games last season...Ramon Sessions had 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Cavaliers.