Manila, Philippines – A top seeded Golden State Warriors knock out the Detroit Pistons on the final 2 minutes of the game tonight December 23, 2016 (Eastern Time) at The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan with a half a dozen leads (119-113).
The loaded Golden State Warriors lead by Kevin Durant and finished with 32pts. Splash Brothers combined with 42pts and 8 of 17 in the three point area.
Credit to Detroit Pistons tonight as they fought hard the defending Western Conference champion lead by 26pts of Tobias Harris, who made 4-6 in the three point area. Pistons also beat the Warriors squad last January 16, 2016 when Ben Wallace had a jersey retirement at the Palace with a score (113-95).
Tonight Pistons, nearly shut down the Warriors as they forced 22 turnovers. It was also a tough win of the Warriors as the Pistons fought back the game and had 18th lead changes and 9th deadlock.
First Quarter
Klay Thompson is on fire in the opening quarter as Warriors lead early in (11-4). Klay Thompson earned his first 8pts of the Warriors (13-9) lead with 4 minutes of play in the period, but Pistons had their own answer and trim the deficit to (33-32) in the first quarter.
Lead Changes in the quarter: 4
Deadlock in the quarter: 2 (13-13) (30-30)
Biggest Lead: 7pts (Warriors)
Second Quarter
Warriors could not leave easily the Pistons they tie again with 37 apiece, but Warriors somehow lead by (47-41). Pistons went(11-1) run to be in the top position (52-48) that leads them to (59-57) going into the break after a 2 made free throws of Klay Thompson on the end.
Lead Changes in the quarter: 3
Deadlock in the quarter: 2 (37-37) (39-39)
Biggest Lead: 6pts (Warriors)
Biggest Lead: 4pts (Pistons)
Durant already scored 16pts in the first half, Splash Brothers already had 12pts each.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope already had 13pts in 3-5 in the three point area.
Third Quarter
Pistons went early with 4-0 run and holds a (63-57). They again tied with 69 apiece then Warriors, but McGee presence in the court fills the Warriors bench as he scored 9pts alone in this period that extends the Warriors lead (86-78). Pistons, nearly trim the lead by 2pts but the follow up of Tobias Harris in the dying seconds is void as the time already expired before he released the ball. Going into the final period Warriors holds a (88-84) leads.
Total Lead Changes in the game: 3
Deadlock in the quarter: 1 (69-69)
Biggest Lead: 6pts (Pistons)
Biggest Lead: 8pts (Warriors)
Fourth Quarter
Both teams exchange a basket after a basket, Pistons, who lead by (95-90) but immediately erased by the Warriors and they tied again 4 times in the quarter alone. Despite the 5 fouls of the Kevin Durant half way in the final period that put him on the bench for 4 minutes. The pistons could not capitalize even without Durant on the Warriors. When the score is tied again with 110 apiece, Draymond Green scored his first basket of the game with a dunk that enables the spark, Splash Brothers made a basket on the next position that put them in the driver seat with 117-112 leads.
Lead Changes in the quarter: 8
Deadlock in the quarter: 4 (96-96) (104-104) (107-107) (110-110)
Biggest Lead: 5pts (Pistons)
Biggest Lead: 6pts (Warriors)
Game Summary
Total Lead Changes: 18
Total Deadlock: 9
Biggest Lead: 6pts (Pistons)
Biggest Lead: 8pts (Warriors)
Draymond Green who made his first basket in the last 2minutes finished with double-double with 5pts and 10 rebounds along with 12 assist and 3 of 4 in the free throw line while JaVale McGee on the bench finished with 15pts.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also added 25pts to the Detroit Pistons, Reggie Jackson also finished with 17pts.
Warriors and Pistons will face again each other on January 12, 2016 (Eastern Time) at the Oracle Arena.
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