Last week: Won at New Orleans 105-103, lost to Dallas at Mexico City 122-111, won at Houston 115-107
This week: Monday vs. Washington, Wednesday vs. Toronto, Friday at Boston, Saturday vs. Chicago
The Detroit Pistons picked up an impressive road win Saturday night in Houston coming off a loss to the Mavericks in Mexico City. That win over the Rockets was made more impressive by the fact Andre Drummond sat out with inflammation in his left eye and Blake Griffin didn’t return in the second half because of a sore left knee. He was 0-for-7 for two points in the first half.
Detroit got 56 points off the bench, led by Derrick Rose‘s 20. The former MVP also had 12 assists. For the week, Rose averaged 20.0 points, 7.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 27.0 minutes per game. He shot 48.1 percent overall while hitting 5-of-17 from 3-point range. Luke Kennard also snapped out of a slump with 22 points in the win over the Rockets.
Last week: Lost to Oklahoma City 104-90, won at Minnesota 127-116, beat Golden State 114-106
This week: Tuesday vs. Orlando, Thursday at Atlanta, Saturday at Charlotte
The Utah Jazz got the ship righted a bit with a pair of wins following a stretch during which the Jazz lost four of five and six of eight games. That those wins came against the free-falling Timberwolves and the woeful Warriors isn’t that important — Utah just needed to get a win or two in a row, against anyone.
Rudy Gobert had himself a week, averaging 18.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 blocks in 35.3 minutes per game in the three games, shooting a ridiculous 76.7 percent from the floor (23-for-30). That included 20 points and 16 boards at Minnesota on Wednesday night, though he posted double-doubles in all three games and has an active streak of nine in a row.