The Pistons are starting to look the way a Detroit Pistons team is supposed to look.
They beat the Hornets 112-105 for their fifth consecutive victory and tightened their grip on a playoff spot.
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As has been its style during the recent hot streak, it was a team effort. Big man Andre Drummond played big, scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 boards. Guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (21 points) and Reggie Jackson (17) got their buckets, as did Marcus Morris, who came up with 20 points and seven rebounds.
It hasn't just been the starters, though.
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Third-year center Aron Baynes has been a big part of the winning streak. He contributed 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench Friday, and has scored in double figures in three of the team's last five games, including a 21-point, seven-rebound performance against the Nets. Anthony Tolliver has provided similar production.
The Pistons (39-34) are comfortably in eighth place in the East, two games ahead of the Bulls and 3 1/2 ahead of the Wizards. They're a percentage point behind the Pacers (38-33) for seventh, and they have an outside shot of moving up to sixth; they trail the Hornets (41-31) by 2 1/2 games.
Tweet of the Night
They might not be the Warriors, but the Spurs are still pretty good.
With tonight’s #SpursWin, we tie the 95-96 Bulls for the best home start in @NBA history (37-0) pic.twitter.com/GtbADFjwb0
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 26, 2016
Highlight of the Night
This. Dude. Right. Here.
How did he? #StephGonnaSteph on @csnauthentic. pic.twitter.com/9sm3luoHCJ
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) March 26, 2016
Studs of the Night
The Rockets took down the East's second-best team, the Raptors, and James Harden was a big reason why. He put up a triple-double with 32 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
LaMarcus Aldridge put up the big numbers that befit his hefty contract. Aldridge scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Spurs beat the Grizzlies 110-104 and improved to 37-0 at home.
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Looking ahead
Spurs (61-11) at Thunder (50-22), 8 p.m. ET: Eleven games separate these teams in the West standings, but they're second and third in the conference, which means they could meet in the second round of the playoffs.