National Basketball Association
Charlotte 98, Detroit 86
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, December 21, 2018
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
Officials: #28 Kevin Scott, #43 Matt Myers, #26 Pat Fraher
Attendance: 15812

Marvin Williams scored 24 points, with a career-high seven 3-pointers, and the host Charlotte Hornets continued their mastery over the Detroit Pistons with a 98-86 victory on Friday night.

Williams hit four of his triples in the third quarter, when the Hornets pulled out to a 14-point lead and took control of the game for good.

It was Charlotte's third win over the Pistons in three games this season, and it was the second in the past 10 days. The Hornets also won 108-107 on a buzzer beater from Jeremy Lamb on Dec. 12 at the Spectrum Center.

Williams, in his 14th NBA season, finished 7 of 11 from 3-point range. The Hornets also got 22 points from Kemba Walker, 12 from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and 11 each from Lamb and Willy Hernangomez.

Blake Griffin led the Pistons with 23 points. Andre Drummond finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds, Reggie Jackson scored 12 and Reggie Bullock 11.

The Hornets led 25-21 after one quarter and 45-40 at halftime. They led by as many as 14 in the half. Then came the push in the third quarter to lead by as many as 14 and they took a 75-65 lead into the fourth quarter.

Detroit got as close as 81-78 on a three-point play by Jackson with 5:05 left, but the Hornets regrouped and reeled off a 9-0 run at that point, thanks to 3-pointers by Lamb and Walker.

The Hornets were closing out a five-game homestand. They will play at Boston on Sunday.

The Pistons will return home to host Atlanta on Sunday.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Detroit   Charlotte
Blake Griffin 23 Scoring Marvin Williams 24
Blake Griffin 5 Assists Kemba Walker 5
Andre Drummond 16 Rebounds Cody Zeller 8
Blake Griffin 7 Free Throws Made Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 4
Andre Drummond 3 Steals Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 2
Bruce Brown 3 Blocks Kemba Walker 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Detroit 86 39.0 8-34 14-22 21 41 5 8 16
Charlotte 98 44.0 12-24 20-28 19 43 5 7 18
Upcoming Games
  • Charlotte will play their next game on the road against Boston. The Hornets have a W/L % of .438 after a win and .600 after a loss.
  • Detroit will play their next game at home against Atlanta. The Pistons have a W/L % of .625 after a win and .357 after a loss.