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Knight stars as Pistons pummel Cavs

Apr 18, 2012 - 3:39 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Brandon Knight scored a career-high 28 points to go along with seven assists as the Detroit Pistons dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 116-77, at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Tayshaun Prince added 15 points, while Greg Monroe contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons, who had dropped five of their last six entering Tuesday's game.

The win was Detroit's largest margin of victory all-time against the Cavaliers. The Piston's previous largest victory over Cleveland was a 109-74 decision on November 28, 2007.

"Sometimes there are just crazy nights like that where everything you shoot goes in and for them, everything they shoot doesn't," said Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank.

Manny Harris scored 18 points to pace the Cavaliers, who lost for the 17th time in their last 21 games.

The Pistons dominated the game from the start, opening the contest with a 21-7 run to take a commanding lead they would never lose.

Detroit carried a 27-16 lead into the second quarter and Harris started the frame with a jumper to bring Cleveland within single digits, but the Pistons responded with a 21-9 push to stretch their lead up to 48-27 and led by as much as 25 late in the half en route to a 61-38 advantage at the break.

A 22-3 run to open the third quarter stretched the Pistons' lead up to 83-41, but they did not take their foot off the pedal and connected on 75 percent of their shots in the frame to extend the cushion to 100-50 entering the fourth quarter.

Detroit's reserves took over from there to play out the remainder of the game.

"I just look at it like one team came out to play and the other team didn't," Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison said. "All phases of the game we just didn't come out and bring it."

Game Notes

Cavaliers rookie guard Kyrie Irving missed his ninth straight game with an injured shoulder...Detroit connected on 60 percent of its shots from the field, while Cleveland shot 34.6 percent...The Cavaliers held a 16-14 advantage on second-chance points.