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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs knew they were
missing an ingredient last season. They think they might have found
it in Derek Anderson.
|  | | Derek Anderson, who led the Spurs with 25 points, eyes the basket over Detroit's Jerry Stackhouse. |
Anderson scored 25 points Friday, including 10 in a crucial
third-quarter run, to lead the Spurs to a season-best
fifth straight win, 111-90 over the slumping Detroit Pistons.
"Last year, we were lacking someone who could take the ball to
the basket," said David Robinson. "Derek does a good job of that,
which makes life easier for both Tim (Duncan) and I."
Anderson has averaged 18.4 points in the winning streak and has
49 in the last two games.
"I'm just trying to stay active on both ends of the floor," he
said. "I've been feeling really good. We have to make sure that
our chemistry stays this good when we get guys back from
injuries."
The Pistons have lost four in a row and seven of eight.
"We're on a slide right now, but we have to keep plugging
away," said Jerry Stackhouse, who led Detroit with 35 points. "We
have to find five guys who can start the game with a lot of energy,
and five more who can come off the bench and sustain it."
Tim Duncan added 20 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio,
while Robinson had 18.
"I don't know if this is the best we've played all year, but it
is pretty good," Duncan said. "We know we have to keep up the
good defense, because we're going to see Stackhouse, Iverson and
McGrady in a row."
After shooting a season-low 33 percent in Wednesday's 25-point
loss to Toronto, the Pistons hit 14 of 19 (73.7 percent) in the
first quarter on their way to a 34-24 lead.
But it didn't last as the Spurs held Detroit to 16
second-quarter points and took a 54-50 lead at the half.
"We started slowly -- we don't give up 34 points in the first
quarter to anyone," Robinson said. "But we picked it up in the
second quarter and started executing."
San Antonio broke open the game with a 15-2 run midway through
the fourth quarter. Anderson had the final 10 points of the run,
which put the Spurs ahead 74-56.
Anderson's final five points came on one possession, thanks to
three Detroit technical fouls in 13 seconds. Pistons coach George
Irvine picked up the first two for arguing, and the third was for
an illegal defense.
"I'm the last person to blame the officials, but enough is
enough," Irvine said. "Joe Smith went inside and went inside and
went inside and couldn't get a call. The most frustrating one was
when David Robinson put both hands on Joe's back and shoved him six
feet. The only three people in the building who didn't see it were
the ones with the whistles."
The Pistons never got closer than 12 points in the fourth.
Detroit has not led once in the second half during its four-game
losing streak.
Game notes
Stackhouse missed 15 of 19 shots in the Toronto loss, but
hit seven of his first eight from the floor against the Spurs. ...
Malik Rose missed the game with a sore right hip. ... Mateen
Cleaves was chosen to play in the Rookie Challenge during next
month's All-Star Weekend. He'll be reunited on the 2000-01 rookie
team with childhood friend and college teammate Morris Peterson.
... Before being ejected Friday, Irvine was the only coach in the
NBA without a technical foul. Mo McHone took over after Irvine
left.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 86
Washington 82
Toronto 93
Boston 72
San Antonio 111
Detroit 90
Minnesota 95
LA Clippers 89
Charlotte 86
Chicago 85
Denver 106
Sacramento 93
Seattle 115
Vancouver 102
LA Lakers 101
Cleveland 98
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Jerry Stackhouse Official Site
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