SALT LAKE CITY - The Detroit Pistons hadnt played this well in Utah since John Stockton and Karl Malone were on the Jazz. Mike Davis Jersey . Andre Drummond had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Detroit shot a season-best 55 per cent to blow by the Jazz 114-94 Monday night. It was the Pistons first victory in Utah since Richard Hamilton had 28 points in an 80-78 squeaker on Nov. 6, 2002, that was aided by an ill Malone taking the night off. When guard Rodney Stuckey found out, he couldnt believe it. "Wow. Well this is very rare, absolutely, but we really played as a team," said Stuckey, who had 19 points. Brandon Jennings, who scored 15, said he was probably 12 or 13 years old the last time the Pistons won in Utah — and this one reminded him of being a kid on the playground. "Tonight felt like a pickup game. We were getting things that were so easy," Jennings said. Drummond shot 9 for 10 from the field and Greg Monroe added 18 points and 11 rebounds to help the Pistons snap a 14-game road losing streak in the finale of a four-game Western Conference trip. "We were both aggressive. We moved around trying to get second shots ... and we did a good job being patient," Monroe said. Gordon Hayward scored 32 points — his highest total since he had 37 against Oklahoma City on Jan. 7 — to lead the Jazz, who have lost seven of eight. Hayward converted a three-point play to slice the lead to 88-76 with 10:03 to play, but the Jazz couldnt get any closer. Each time they made a run, the Pistons responded with a 3-pointer or a basket near the rim. "Its too difficult when you let teams get going like this. They feel good about all the shots they get," Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said. Detroit went 9 for 17 from 3-point range and ended a five-game losing streak. Just as they did when their comeback fell just short against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, the Pistons used crisp ball movement to find open shots. They topped their previous mark for accuracy (54 per cent) set against Atlanta on Feb. 21. "We just took what their defence gave us. We were able to move the ball around, we were making shots and we made everybody look good tonight," Jennings said. Monroe scored on a pass from Kyle Singler to stake the Pistons to their largest lead at 71-46 in the third quarter. The Pistons still have an outside shot at the playoffs, but they need more efforts like this one. Detroit outrebounded Utah 53-33 and hounded the Jazz into 7-of-27 shooting from beyond the arc. The Pistons gained a game on the Hawks, who lost to Phoenix on Monday, but still trail them by 5 1/2 games for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth with 12 games remaining. The Jazz missed the offensive creativity of Alec Burks, the teams second-leading scorer. He sat out his second straight game with a sprained left ankle. Utahs roster doesnt feature many players who can create their own shot, and once the Pistons interrupted the Jazz sets, they were forced into several off-balance jumpers to beat the shot clock. In the first half, the Pistons didnt miss many attempts, shooting at a 61 per cent clip. When they did happen to misfire, they were often there to get the rebound and put the ball back in. Of their 16 misses, the Pistons retrieved nine of them on their way to a 60-40 halftime lead. The Pistons avenged a 110-89 loss at home Jan. 17 when Trey Burke led Utah with 20 points and 12 assists. This time around, the former Michigan star was outplayed by both Jennings and Stuckey and shot just 6 of 15 for 15 points with two assists. "Its tough, but weve just got to continue to learn," Burke said. "They had more energy than us early on and when we did try and make a push, it was kind of too late." The Jazz, who have shown effort throughout this trying season, looked spent and splintered against Detroit. Players and coaches were yelling at each other, no one was sprinting to the timeout huddles, and hustle plays were few and far between. The Jazz, who never led, own the worst record in the Western Conference. NOTES: The Jazz were only able to convert Detroits 13 turnovers into six points. Utah had a season-low seven turnovers, but they led to 14 Detroit points. ... The Pistons outscored the Jazz 34-17 in the second, their most dominant quarter of the season. ... Drummond entered the game ranked second in the NBA in field goal percentage. Marcin Gortat Jersey .com) - Mike Conley scored 20 points with five assists to help the Memphis Grizzlies remain unbeaten with a 91-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. C. J. Miles Jersey . -- The NFL cancelled its Hall of Fame game between St.As an elite athlete and Olympic gold medallist, how did you make the transition to sports broadcaster?Well, the camera never scared me – I always enjoyed doing interviews and tried to have fun with them. And when an opportunity presents itself, I like to dive at it head-first. When I was competing on Battle of the Blades, [I was asked] to come in for a screen test with Leafs TV. It was something I was interested in, so I immediately decided to jump at it. I fell in love with the job the second they put that mic in my hand, and Ive worked hard every day trying to get better. Its my new passion.How does your experience in sports shape your perspective on what athletes go through?Being an athlete is a privilege, its not something I took for granted. And its something that allows me to connect with and relate to other athletes as theyre competing at the top level. Having been able to play at such a high level, Ive seen a lot of fantastic athletes and the way they prepare. You can relate with steps theyre walking through: going over shifts in their mind, or even calming their nerves [in the clutch]. And the quality that all competitive athletes have in common is the fact that we all want to be perfect. Thats what we strive for, even though its never really attainable. So I understand that feeling, and I empathize with them. Youre well known as an Olympic hockey player, but do you play any other sports?I was most focused on hockey and soccer up until I went to college, and I ended up having to choose one, because you cant play both. But in high school I played flag football, softball, basketball, cross country, track and field, soccer, and of course hockey. I just enjoy competing, and I think it was also a cheap excuse to get out of class sometimes!One other sport Im passionate about: I recently fell in love with my road bike. Ive got the need for speed. Oh, and I also play tennis with friends for fun. By no means am I Serena Williams, though in my head sometimes I do think I hit as hard as she does!You were a panelist for womens hockey broadcasts on TSN during the Sochi Olympics. What was it like covering a team you played for?Those are my best friends – theyre my sisters. I spent years training with them. Weve laughed together, cried together, won together, and learned together. So to step in and cover it was an emotional experience, having just been released from the team. It was also a great learning experience for me. I wanted to give not only the Canadian women but the sport of womens hockey the best possible coverage, because I think they deserve it. I put a lot of pressure on myself to come up with unique points to break down the game differently, not only to show how skilled these athletes are, but to teach the viewer about our sport, because its a little different from the mens game. Due to the no body contact rules, its a speed and finesse game. It made me proud to be able to talk about my friends, not only from Canada, but the USA, Finland, Sweden, Swiitzerland, and more. Chris Whitney Jersey. To share their stories with the rest of Canada, and to let viewers know how much attention they deserve.Youre also part of the Champions network with the Special Olympics, how did you get involved with it?It was actually through Jamie Salé. I got to know her through Battle of the Blades, and she was so helpful and patient – I dont know if Id have been able to half the things on that show if it werent for her. She reached out to me and asked if Id be interested in helping out. Im an honourary chair with Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer, and this was another chance to give back and stay involved with the athletic community, so it was an easy decision. Weve got a really good team in place, and there are many events to come.Who were your sports heroes growing up?As a kid, you always look up to your parents. My mom played baseball. She was a rover, and she had a hot glove. And my dad played hockey at the collegiate level and junior level in Sudbury. My dad coached a college team, the Cambrian College Golden Shields, and I lived at the rink, watching them play. So my dads hockey players were my first true hockey idols. They were a big, tough team, and it helped shape my game. I wasnt the biggest, but I played mean.When womens hockey emerged with the Womens World Championship in 1990, there was one player who I played a lot like, and that was Geraldine Heaney. She came to Sudbury one year to my dads hockey school, so I actually got to play with my idol at the age of 12. She snapped a picture with me wearing her silver medal from Nagano, and I knew immediately that the Olympics was something I was prepared to do anything for. Whats your favourite sports team?I went to college at Ohio State University, so Im a Buckeye. I bleed scarlet and grey through and through. Aaron Ward tries to make fun of me about it, but his Michigan Wolverines have a hard time standing up to the Buckeyes. Ohio State-Michigan football games are the best: I remember one game at the end of the year we beat them 52-49, and I rushed the field with everyone and ripped out part of the 50-yard line. We planted it in our front yard at the house I lived in.Youre currently hosting TSNs French Open Primetime broadcasts, who are some players youre looking forward to covering at the tournament?Well, I think Roger Federer owns the title of most talented, but Novak Djokovic is the most entertaining tennis player out there. I always like watching him because he brings lightheartedness to the game. He pushes the envelope of traditional tennis etiquette. And of course the young Canadian players: Eugenie Bouchard is so young and so talented, and Milos Raonic is just waiting for his breakthrough moment. This is the first tennis tournament Ive covered, and if he does well, obviously I must have had something to do with it, right? Maybe that will be my claim to fame.Tessa Bonhomme hosts French Open Primetime, airing every evening of the tournament on TSN. Visit TSN.ca for full schedule info. ' ' '
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