Tue Apr 1 22:55:22 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Pistons use mostly reserves to down hapless Timberwolves

---

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Rodney Stuckey made the most of his late- season opportunity, scoring the go-ahead basket late in the fourth quarter to complement a 27-point effort, as the Detroit Pistons put a makeshift team on the court and beat the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves, 94-90, at the Target Center.

Tayshaun Prince scored 15 points with six assists and five rebounds, but the star forward must have felt somewhat lonely playing alongside a group of reserves. Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups were deactivated prior to the contest -- a reward for the group's hard work in pushing the Pistons to another 50-win campaign.

Walter Hermann added 11 points and 11 total Pistons scored, as they snapped a three-game skid.

It was no April Fool's joke, even with a starting five that featured a starting backcourt of Stuckey and Jarvis Hayes. The Pistons now have eight games left in the regular season, including a pair of back-to-back games, and are basically a mathematical lock for the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Al Jefferson scored 26 points with seven rebounds, Randy Foye donated 18 points with five boards and Corey Brewer posted 10 points and six rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost three of four.

The Pistons put together a furious rally in the final period, outscoring Minnesota 29-18 to steal the win. Stuckey's bucket with just over 45 seconds on the clock gave the Pistons a 90-88 edge and Prince made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe with 35 ticks to go.

Foye answered with a jumper then Stuckey was fouled with 15.7 ticks to go. The guard had drained 10-of-10 foul shots prior to attempts, and he made the first but rimmed out the second. The loose ball rebound found its way back to Stuckey, and he made both foul shots the next time to ice the game.

Minnesota came out shooting, while the Pistons came out struggling at the game's outset. Jefferson's finger roll and subsequent free throw capped a 7-0 start, and the lead grew to 26-13 on four straight points from Foye.

The Timberwolves held a 30-18 advantage after 12 minutes of play.

The momentum continued to mount in the second stanza. Jefferson's two free throws with 4:32 on the clock increased the margin to 49-30, but the Pistons tallied the half's final 14 points.

Players named Hermann, Cheikh Samb and Juan Dixon scored the first eight points, and after two Stuckey free throws, Samb drained a jumper and Hermann connected on two free throws for the halftime score.

Game Notes

The Pistons made just 40 percent of their shots, while Minnesota shot 42.7 percent from the floor...The two clubs combined to make just 8-of-28 from beyond the arc...Detroit grabbed 13 offensive rebounds...Antonio McDyess scored six points to go along with a team-high 10 boards in the victory...The game featured eight ties and six lead changes.