Drummond, Griffin leads Pistons over Nets

Brooklyn Nets guard Nik Stauskas (2) controls the ball as Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Febraury 7, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

DETROIT — Andre Drummond had 17 points and 27 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons extended their winning streak to five with a 115-106 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

Blake Griffin scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter for the Pistons, who have not lost since acquiring him in a trade last week. Griffin will face his old team this Friday night when the Los Angeles Clippers are in town.

Allen Crabbe had 19 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter for the Nets. They have lost four in a row and eight of nine.

Crabbe scored 16 of Brooklyn’s points in a row during one fourth-quarter stretch, capped by a 3-pointer that cut Detroit’s lead to three at 91-88. The Pistons put the ball in Griffin’s hands after that, and he scored nine of their next 11.

Drummond had 12 rebounds in the first half and added 11 more in the third quarter. He finished with a season high, just two shy of his career best. It was the third time in the last five games he reached 20 rebounds.

He shot only 5 of 17 from the field, but that just meant more opportunities for offensive rebounds. He had seven of those. Despite all that, the Pistons were actually outrebounded as a team, 50-46.        /kga