Bucks knock off Pistons with shooting barrage
MILWAUKEE (AP) — O.J. Mayo scored 20 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks relied on perimeter shooting and defense in a 101-86 win Saturday night over the Detroit Pistons.
The Bucks went 11 for 17 from 3-point range, including a 4-for-5 performance from Mayo. The reserve guard made three 3s in a 47-second span of the second quarter to spark an 18-2 run that gave Milwaukee a 54-40 lead with 4:27 left in the second quarter.
Milwaukee also opened the second half with a 17-2 run. The Bucks led by as much as 30 in the third quarter of a rare easy victory.
Detroit's Brandon Jennings scored 16 points before leaving late in the third with a lower left leg injury.
The Pistons said Jennings would undergo further evaluation after the guard needed help getting to the locker room. Jennings was on the floor in pain for several seconds after planting off his left leg while guarding an inbounds pass.
Coach Stan Van Gundy's team has lost two straight on the road after tying a franchise record with seven straight wins away from Detroit. It appears the Pistons might be without Jennings for a while, too, after the injury while playing against the team that drafted him in the first round in 2009.
Milwaukee played a near-flawless game after the first quarter. Coached by former All-Star point guard Jason Kidd, the Bucks had 33 assists on 41 baskets.
The game was essentially over when the Pistons fell flat coming out at halftime.
Mayo's hot shooting in the second quarter helped give the Bucks to their big cushion. He hit a straightaway 3 before getting another 3 on a fall-away jumper from the left corner.
Anthony Tolliver was then whistled for stepping on the end line on the next inbounds play for a turnover. Mayo hit another 3 to give Milwaukee a 14-point lead.
The Pistons shot 36 percent (31 of 86) for the night.