By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com
Pistons 115, Timberwolves 90 – The Detroit Pistons snapped their three-game losing skid, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.
The Pistons were led by Andre Drummond with 23 points and 18 rebounds, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 22 points and Reggie Jackson chipped in with 19 points and nine assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves in a losing effort with 22 points.
The Pistons are now 18-15 on the season, good for fourth place in the Central Division.
Detroit will travel to play the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
Record: 18-15
4th Place in Central Division (4.5 games behind Cleveland)
Tied for 9th Place in Eastern Conference (4.5 games behind Cleveland)
.5 games behind Boston and Indiana for the last playoff spot
Magic # to clinch a playoff berth: 51
Magic # to clinch Central Division title: 56
Magic # to clinch Eastern Conference title: 56
Next Game: 01/02/2016 @ Indiana Pacers 7:00 p.m. @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Stats: Andre Drummond 23 points 18 rebounds, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 22 points 3 steals, Reggie Jackson 19 points 9 assists, Anthony Tolliver 15 points.
Penguins 5, Red Wings 2 – The Pittsburgh Penguins scored five unanswered goals on Thursday night to hand the Red Wings their third straight loss.
Kris Letang scored two goals and picked up an assist for the Penguins, while Patric Hornqvist and Evgeni Malkin each added a goal and two assists.
Justin Abdelkader and Brendan Smith scored both goals for the Red Wings during the first period.
The Penguins responded with two goals in the second period and three in the third stanza.
Detroit goaltender Petr Mrazek took the loss, stopping 32 of 36 shots.
The Red Wings are now 18-13-7 on the season, good for 43 points and fourth place in the Atlantic Division.
Detroit will travel to take on the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon.
Record: 18-13-7 43 pts
4th Place in Atlantic Division (3 pts behind Florida)
Tied for 7th Place in Eastern Conference (15 pts behind Washington)
1 pt ahead of Ottawa for the last playoff spot
Magic # to clinch 25th straight playoff berth: 88 pts
Magic # to clinch Atlantic Division title: 94 pts
Magic # to clinch Eastern Conference: 106 pts
Next Game: 01/02/2016 @ Buffalo Sabres 1:00 p.m. @ First Niagara Center
Stats: Goals- Justin Abdelkader (12), Brendan Smith (3). Assists- Niklas Kronwall (14), Dylan Larkin (12), Alexei Marchenko (4), Gustav Nyquist (10). Goaltender- Petr Mrazek L (11-8-3) 32 saves on 36 shots.
