Recap: Detroit vs. Minnesota
Sports Network | November 23, 2008
Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Randy Foye scored a game-high 23 points and added 14 assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised past the Detroit Pistons, 106-80, at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Ryan Gomes registered 20 points and seven rebounds, while Al Jefferson had 19 points and eight boards for the Timberwolves, who have won two of their last three after dropping the previous eight games.
Craig Smith had a strong game off the bench, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds for Minnesota, which won for the first time in six tries on the road this season.
Tayshaun Prince paced the Pistons with 20 points and Jason Maxiell chipped in with 12 points and eight boards for Detroit, losers of two straight and three of four. Rasheed Wallace finished with seven points and 10 rebounds, while Allen Iverson had nine points in defeat.
"I got some great looks tonight they just didn't go down," Iverson said. "I stunk up the joint. I couldn't do anything right on the offensive end of the court, I was aggressive going to the basket, I got some wide open looks and they just didn't go down. It was one of those nights you wish you never had but they happen."
With Minnesota holding a 22-19 advantage after one quarter, the Timberwolves went on an 11-2 spurt to open the second, taking a 33-21 edge thanks in part to a three-ball by Sebastian Telfair and four points by Smith with 6:44 left in the half.
Detroit managed to narrow the gap to 35-29 with 3:52 left in the stanza after a pair of free throws by Richard Hamilton. The visitors, however would get a three-pointer by Corey Brewer in the closing minute and take a 44-34 lead into the break.
In the third quarter, the story remained the same. A jumper and layup by Jefferson to open the period keyed a 12-5 T-Wolves run, extending their lead to 54-39 with 8:19 left in the third. Jefferson had eight and Mike Miller accounted for four during the foray. Minnesota would then stretch the advantage to 76-52 after three quarters.
Things didn't get any better for the Pistons in the fourth as the Timberwolves maintained a double-digit advantage for the entire period en rout to the 106-80 final.
"Everything seemed simple tonight," Foye said. "The coach told me to just go for it, and there was just great energy out there."
Detroit will host New York on Wednesday night, while Minnesota hosts Phoenix...The Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak versus the Pistons...Hamilton finished with seven points and six assists...Miller had nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists...Minnesota shot 53 percent from the field, compared to only 37 percent for Detroit.
