DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The key to the game for Detroit came in the second quarter. Down by seven to start the quarter, Detroit tied the game at 40 and then Kevin Knox II put the Pistons in front for the first time in the game, 42-40, with 7:13 left in the quarter. In the next three minutes, Memphis went on an 8-4 run for a 50-44 lead never giving up the lead again in the 114-103 win in Tennessee.

Jalen Duren received his first start in the same state he played college basketball in finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Seven players were in double figures as Bojan Bogdanovic led the team with 19 points,  Marvin Bagley III with 14 points, while Isaiah Stewart and Knox II had 13 points and Jaden Ivey and Saddiq Bey with 10 points.

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Memphis led the entire first quarter taking a 6-0 lead in the first two minutes. They built a 10-2 lead and made it a 10-point lead, 20-10, at the 5:44 mark. Bogdanovic brought the lead down to four, 23-19, on a driving layup but couldn’t get any closer the rest of quarter down seven, 34-27, going to the second.

It was the second that became the difference after Detroit took the lead by two, 42-40, half through the quarter. Memphis took a 61-53 lead at the half.

Just under a minute into the third, Memphis put the lead at 12, 67-55, and by the 9:29 mark it was a 15-point lead, 73-58. By the end of the third Memphis had a 20-point lead, 98-78. Memphis then kept their distance in the fourth quarter to finish off the Pistons, 114-103.

Detroit shot 40 percent in the game but Memphis made 48 percent of their shots. They were held to 28 percent from the arc while Detroit made 31 percent.

Detroit will be back at home on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 6:00 p.m. hosting the Lakers.