Cavaliers are no match for Pistons

Associated Press

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.

Brandon Knight had 28 points and seven assists, and the Detroit Pistons routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-77 on Tuesday night in one of the NBA’s most lopsided games of the season.

Tayshaun Prince added 15 points for the Pistons and Jonas Jerebko scored 14. Detroit led 61-38 at halftime and scored the first 16 points of the third quarter. It was 100-50 after three.

The Cavaliers were without rookie point guard Kyrie Irving, who was out with a right shoulder problem and hasn’t played since April 3. Irving could return tonight against Philadelphia. Cleveland forward Alonzo Gee was a late scratch because of a left ankle sprain.

It was easily Detroit’s most lopsided victory of the season, and the only real suspense in the fourth quarter was whether the Pistons could match or exceed the biggest blowout in the entire league this season. According to STATS, LLC, the mark is Portland’s 112-68 victory over Charlotte on Feb. 1.

Detroit led 116-68 before Cleveland’s Manny Harris made a 3-pointer, Lester Hudson drove for a three-point play and Harris hit another 3.

Harris led the Cavaliers with 18 points.

Detroit shot 60 percent from the field, with Knight going 11 of 12.