Antonio McDyess had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Richard Hamilton also
scored 19, helping the Detroit Pistons snap a five-game road losing streak
with a 93-72 win over the reeling Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
McDyess scored the Pistons' first 12 points in the opening 4 1/2
minutes as Detroit jumped out to an early lead and never trailed, sending
the Rockets to their fourth consecutive loss and sixth in the past eight
games.
The Pistons hadn't won away from home since Nov. 8 against the Los
Angeles Clippers but got little resistance from the Rockets. Houston
dropped its fifth straight at the Toyota Center.
McDyess filled in admirably for All-Star center Ben Wallace, who
completed a six-game suspension for his role in the Nov. 19 brawl with the
Indiana Pacers. The Pistons went 3-3 without him, and they certainly
didn't need him against the punchless Rockets.
Houston scored a season-low 72 points, committed 19 turnovers and
attempted 16 fewer field goals. The Rockets' 6-10 start is the team's
worst since 1999-2000.
In the waning seconds, a
group of fans sitting behind the Houston bench began chanting "Fire
Gundy!" Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy looked at the vocal bunch, nodded at
them and continued frowning at his team's miserable performance.
The Rockets were off the court when the game ended.
McDyess continually shook loose of Rockets center Yao Ming, scoring on
an assortment on putbacks and jumpers in the opening minutes. His
two-handed dunk with 7:39 left in the first quarter gave Detroit a 12-4
lead and touched off the first set of boos from the restless crowd of
15,330.
Hamilton took over from there, hitting a jumper that gave the Pistons a
16-point lead midway through the second quarter.
The Rockets briefly fought their way back, closing to 54-51 on Yao's
basket with 4:17 in the third. But the Pistons quickly pulled away, and
Hamilton's free throws at the end of the quarter put Detroit up by double
digits.
Jim Jackson led Houston with 21 points and eight rebounds, Yao added 19
and Tracy McGrady had 16.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-01 15:43
