Detroit 104
Golden State 95
Pistons.com RecapBoxscoreSurprise suprise.
Hamilton came back to play today with no practice, no conditioning, and no press release. He decided at 4:30 P that he was good to go, and he did.
His return couldn't have come at a better time.
In the beginning, though, the rust and lack of chemistry was evident as the Pistons turned the ball over multiple times and were down to the Warriors 30-24 at the end of the first.
The Warriors have the league's worse defense, allowing 111.8 points per game, but they're excellent at forcing steals with a third best +1.45 differential. The Pistons committed 22 turnovers (they forced 17 themselves) to allow the Warriors to stay in the game.
But the Pistons persevered, applied the defensive clamps in the third quarter to take the lead, and kept it down the stretch. After finding his legs, Hamilton hit a key triple down the stretch to keep the Pistons ahead. Hamilton finished with 18 points of 6 of 15 shooting. Villanueva came off the bench to get 24 points and 9 rebounds. Chucky came off the bench to contribute 9 points and 6 assists, helping to rally the Pistons and settle the offense down at key stretches. Stuckey led the team with 29 points, 7 assists, and 2 rebounds.
He cancelled out the Warriors' Monta Ellis, who had 29 points, 3 assists, and 7 rebounds.
Ellis hit the boards, while Stuckey set his teammates up.
Ellis' rookie backcourt mate, Stephen Curry, had a solid game with 19 points and 4 assists. And Corey Magget came off the Warriors' bench to get 23 points.
The Warriors' backcourt carried Golden State, but played one on one ball, while the Pistons stuck to Coach Kuester team ball game plan and prevailed.
The Pistons have now won 5 in a row and 6 of their last seven to push their record to 11-12. Hamilton also scored his 10,000th point as a Piston with his first basket of the game to go to 5th on the All Time Piston scorers list.
The Pistons are currently in 7th place in the East, trailing #5 Miami (11-10) and #6 Milwaukee (11-11). They now have a tough road game in Houston to look forward to on Tuesday to kick off a 3 game West road trip. This trip won't be a walk in the park, but it won't be so unforgiving as their earlier 4 game West swing.
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( 10 - 12 ) VS 
( 7 - 15 ) 
Will Bynum Out - Ankle.
Ben Gordon Out - Ankle.
Tayshaun Prince Out - Ruptured disc in his lower back.
Andris Biedrin Ques - Groin.
Speedy Claxton Out indefinitely - Undisclosed.
Kelenna Azubuike Out for season - Knee 
Raja Bell Out indefinitely - Wrist.
Brandan Wright Out indefinitely - Shoulder.
Anthony Randolph 1.25bpg
