AUBURN HILLS, MI – Kevin Love scored 26 points and had 16 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons allowed a season-high 121 points to the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves in a 27-point home loss on Tuesday.
“We couldn’t get any defensive stops going and that’s a good offensive team,” said Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks. “We had turnovers and they continued to score.”
Minnesota (10-11) finished with 64 first half-points and never slowed down. Six Timberwolves finished in double figures, including all five starters and reserve point guard J.J. Barea. After Love’s 26 points, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic each had 18, and Ricky Rubio added 15 to go along with nine assists.
“We did a great job of running, of pushing the ball,” said Martin. “We had fun out there.”
Brandon Jennings led Detroit (10-12) with 20 points and seven assists and Josh Smith added 17 points and four rebounds. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 16 points and Andre Drummond had eight points and eight rebounds. Chauncey Billups scored seven points and tallied five assists in his first game back since November 12.
“We have to go back to the drawing board, we have a game tomorrow so we have to get ready for that. We just have to let this one go.”
The Pistons travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans Wednesday before returning home Friday against Brooklyn. The Timberwolves host Philadelphia tomorrow and travel to Sacramento on Friday.
