AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — It’s not quite a winning streak, but after losing 18 consecutive, it’s close enough.
Kemba Walker had 20 points and seven assists and Ben Gordon scored 18 points as the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Detroit Pistons 108-101 in overtime Sunday night for their second victory in three games.
After snapping the long losing skid with a 91-81 victory at Chicago on Monday, Charlotte lost 106-104 to Cleveland at home Friday night before picking up its second victory in the past 21 games. Ramon Sessions added 15 points, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 11, and Bismack Biyombo had 10 points and 17 rebounds for the Bobcats.
“It definitely helped push us away from that losing streak and get on with life,” Charlotte Coach Mike Dunlop said.
Tayshaun Prince scored 21 points to lead Detroit, which ended a four-game winning streak. Greg Monroe had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists, and Rodney Stuckey scored 18 points.
“They’re a team that when you score on them, they push it right back down your throat. They come at you 100 times faster than you went at them,” Pistons rookie center Andre Drummond said. “That’s one of the teams that when you score, you miss a shot, you got to get back quick or else they’re going to score on you.”
Walker’s driving layup with 7.8 seconds left in regulation tied the score at 96, sending the game to overtime.
“I’m just trying to make the best play possible, whether it’s a pass or making a basket,” Walker said. “Tonight it was the basket that put us into overtime.”
Then, he and Tyrus Thomas had four points each for Charlotte in the extra period.
“He’s got a big heart and he knows how to close a game,” Dunlop said about Walker. “He’s a special player.”
Thomas, who had 1 3 points, was playing in only his second game after missing six weeks with a right calf strain.
Prince’s jump hook with 2:02 left had given the Pistons a 96-94 lead.
Drummond scored six consecutive points for the Pistons and blocked shot in less than a four-minute span in the fourth quarter as Detroit led 90-87 with 5:39 left. But Drummond then fouled Walker, who hit two free throws with 5:15 remaining to bring the Bobcats within one.
“A loss is a loss, no matter who it’s to, whether it’s to Derrick Rose, Kemba Walker,” Pistons point guard Brandon Knight said. “Those are just guys on certain teams. It’s a team game. It’s the Pistons lost to the Bobcats.”
In other games, LeBron James scored 24 points and the Miami Heat closed with a 21-0 run over the final 7:07 to beat the Washington Wizards 99-71 in Miami. James extended his streaks of scoring at least 20 points to 32 consecutive games this season, and 53 in a row including last year’s playoff run. ... Zach Randolph scored 21 points and Rudy Gay added 20 to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 92-81 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix.Tony Allen scored 11 and Marc Gasol had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have won three of their past five games. P.J. Tucker scored a career-high 17 points and Marcin Gortat added 12 points and rebounds for the Suns. ... Russell Westbrook scored 23 points, Kevin Durant had 22 and Oklahoma City won for the 17th time in its past 20 games, defeating the Toronto Raptors 104-92 in Toronto. Serge Ibaka had 19 points and eight rebounds and Kevin Martin scored 16 as the Thunder enjoyed a winning start to a stretch that sees them play 11 of 13 on the road. Alan Anderson scored 17 of his career-high 27 points in the second quarter and Amir Johnson had 19 for the Raptors, who lost their second consecutive after winning eight of nine.
Sports, Pages 17 on 01/07/2013