Thanks for following once again. Watch for the recap.
I would like to thank you for following along here on VAVEL tonight! Enjoyed bringing you a LIVE of the Detroit Pistons game for a second night in a row. I will write up the recap of this game, and it'll be published to the site within the hour!
Fourth quarter (END): Spurs win it, 104-87. Coaches Stan Van Gundy (Pistons) and Gregg Popovich (Spurs) chat and as the buzzer sounds.
Fourth quarter (0:8): Into the final ten seconds of the game tonight. Pistons are at the line, but they'll lose this one by about as a large a margin as they beat Charlotte yesterday evening.
Fourth quarter (1:32): Spurs have their largest lead of the night again, entering the final minute of the game (20 points). 103-85 the score now.
Fourth quarter (3:10): Detroit is out of time to tie or win this game, that's for sure. They didn't play as bad as they have in past games this season... and the Spurs look like they have a definite shot at defending their 2014 championship.
Fourth quarter (3:37): D.J. Augustin now has 40 free throws made in a row. Very impressive, and the longest streak in the NBA.
Fourth quarter (5:54): 93-79 still. The Pistons have run out of time, and after their performance tonight, a sudden 15 or so points cannot be expected.
Fourth quarter (6:51): KCP with a triple for Detroit! He has 20 points on the night. Whistle and a Greg Monroe foul. 93-79 the score.
Fourth quarter (8:18): Two more for San Antonio. Greg Monroe with two for the Pistons, count it and a foul! He heads to the line with 8 minutes and 2 seconds remaining in regulation.
Fourth quarter (9:50): Detroit is shooting just under 50% for the game. 84-69 is the score into the final 10 minutes of play.
Fourth quarter (10:27): Lucas rushes and drains a mid-range shot for two for Detroit.
Fourth quarter (11:49): Spurs get it to start the fourth, and miss a triple attempt. Rebound to Detroit - foul on Ginobli as the ball goes to the other end of the court.
After this intermission, the final quarter will be underway at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Will the Pistons be able to shut down the Spurs' offense and come back? Let me know on Twitter: @DoubleA291
- Third quarter is below.
Third quarter (END): The Spurs will take their largest lead of the game into the fourth quarter.
Third quarter (0:37): Final half minute of the third quarter. The Pistons are being shown how it's done by the reigning champs. Pistons continuing to show fight, but time runs out in the third and good offense is yet to be played by Detroit.
Third quarter (2:47): The Sputs now lead 73-56. They aren't playing slow or without energy, Detroit just isn't scoring - and San Antonio is.
Third quarter (5:20): Tim Duncan makes it 68-51. Pistons need to pick it up or this game will continue to go more and more out of their hands.
Third quarter (6:49): Tolliver earns another two points for Detroit, then Duncan gets two more for San Antonio. Score: 66-48.
Third quarter (9:00): Great offense has been the story for San Antonio. Definitely not so for Detroit.
Third quarter (10:30): San Antonio extends their lead to 52-39 over Detroit. Augustin to the line for the Pistons; first free throw falls, and the second as well. 38 straight at the line for D.J Augustin, that's the longest streak in the league. Triple for San Antonio. 55-41
Third quarter (11:45): The second half gets underway as the third quarter begins! Play resumes with the score at 48-39. Leonard tripped as he broke for the basket; didn't seem to be KCP's fault, but he's at the line.
Haltime contines. Head on over to Twitter and tweet me your predictions for the rest of this one: @DoubleA291
- Second quarter is below.
Second quarter (END): Spurs with the lead at the half. Entering the second half of the game and the third quarter, the Pistons will need to keep up the defense, if not pick it up a bit. Also, they definitely need to pick up the performance on the offensive side of the court. They shouldn't have to struggle to score points.
Second quarter (0:15.6): Less than 20 seconds remaining in the half. Parker at the line for the Spurs.
Second quarter (0:43): Pistons basketball in the final minute of the half.
Second quarter (1:51): Parker right to the basket. Pistons go back down 11. First half coming to a close in Detroit.
Second quarter (3:45): Just under four to play in the half. 40-31.
Second quarter (4:26): Augustin scores his sixth points for Detroit. His teams' offense is yet to click and become consistent for the night, but their defense is allowing them to stick close to the opposing San Antonio Spurs. The score with less than five minutes left in the half: 37-29 San Antonio.
Second quarter (6:12): Detroit trails by 11. until another triple by Tolliver! 33-25 is now the Spurs lead. Baseline shot for Baynes, drained, 35-25.
Second quarter (9:27): A series of triples are drained by the Pistons! Tolliver continues playing well, after a great performance last night.
- First quarter is below.
First quarter (5:12): Augustin to the basket for two; they trail by just one at the five minute mark of the quarter. Technical foul for Stan Van Gundy!
First quarter (6:03): Shot clock runs out for Tim Duncan as he misses a hook. Manu Ginobli enters for Green for the Spurs. 11-8 San Antonio lead.
First quarter (8:57): Duncan can't get a mid-range shot to fall. Green then drains a three for the Spurs; 7-6, his team leads.
First quarter (9:50): Drummond gets his first four points of the night. 4-4 tie in Detroit.
First quarter (10:54): Pistons strike first as KCP drives around and to the basket for two. 2-0 Piston lead.
Tip-off!
Last night in Charlotte, Anthony Tolliver had 16 points for the Pistons. Since he was acquired from the Suns, the Pistons have won 16 games with him.
The Pistons will need four quarters of great defense tonight - but so will the Spurs on the other end of the court.
Your opportunity to predict tonight's winner is in my most recent tweet: @DoubleA291
Tip-off for the game tonight is nearing. The Spurs, last time they played Detroit, lost the game with 0.1 seconds left. Will tonight be just as exciting? Find out by following here throughout the entire game!
It's game time!
Hopefully you stick around for a good part of the game, and share this live article of the game via social media (share buttons are near the title!). Speaking of social media, head on over to Twitter and tweet at me your predictions of today's game, and your thoughts at any point in time throughout the four quarters: @DoubleA291
Warm ups are continuing on the court... it's almost game time!
A notable player heading into the game: Andre Drummond of the Pistons is second in the league in rebounding (12.9 per game), and he's averaging 16.7 points and 14.3 rebounds per game against the Spurs (the teams have faced off three times against San Antonio).
As you can see, the records of the two teams are basically opposites of each other - but I do not believe these records can be cited as evidence when choosing the winner tonight. Do not forget what went down the last time these two squads faced off; the Pistons hung around, and struck hard at the end for the win.
The records of the two teams heading into tonight's game:
The visiting San Antonio Spurs: 33-19
The home Detroit Pistons: 21-32.
The last time the Spurs and the Pistons went head to head was on the sixth day of the year - and it was a fantastic game. Last time, San Antonio was the home team, but Brandon Jennings scored the game-winning layup with 0.1 seconds remaining, sealing the deal on a 105-104 win over the Spurs. Of course, Jennings is now out for the season with a torn Achilles, so it will be interesting to see how the Pistons will fair against the same Spurs team with their heavily impacted team, missing their top point guard. San Antonio, though, will be looking to avenge one of their most disappointing losses of this season. That win also took place during the period of time after the Pistons' release of Josh Smith, where they suddenly began playing fantastic basketball.
Here are just a few player-specific stats of last night's beat down given to the Hornets by the Pistons:
- Greg Monroe: 23 points, 12 rebounds
- Andre Drummond: 14 points, 9 rebounds
- D.J Augustin and Jodie Meeks: 18 points
The Pistons are 10-17 at home, playing often times much better basketball whilst on the road.
Tonight begins a five-game homestand for the Detroit Pistons. It will be San Antonio at the Palace of Auburn Hills tonight, then the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks.
The Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won his 1,000th career game with an exciting victory - but they have another tough game ahead of them, given the way the Pistons can and have been playing lately. Their 28-point margin of victory of the Charlotte Hornets yesterday evening proves this (and that's after a slow opening quarter).
Beginning with a few notes as game time is still a few hours away (above).
Welcome to live coverage of tonight's NBA matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons. Follow throughout the entire game for minute by minute coverage of the game between the reigning NBA champs and the Pistons who are coming off a major win last night in Charlotte. From now until tip-off at 7:30 pm ET, though, stay tuned for analysis, news and notes, and more right here.