Sexton scores 29 points, Cavaliers beat Pistons 122-107

Collin Sexton scored 29 points and Andre Drummond had 23 points, 16 rebounds and five steals against his former team, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 122-107 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

Taurean Prince added 16 points and rookie Isaac Okoro had 10 points and a season-high six assists to help the Cavaliers snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 9-9.

Jerami Grant scored 26 points and Mason Plumlee had 15 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high eight turnovers for Detroit. The Pistons have the worst road record in the Eastern Conference at 1-7. Grant made 10 of 10 free throws.

Detroit Pistons' Jerami Grant, left, and Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen battle for a loose ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Drummond made a bank shot midway through the fourth quarter to give Cleveland its largest lead of the night at 108-89. The Cavaliers went ahead for good at 72-69 on Darius Garland's 3-pointer in the third.

Garland had 14, and Cedi Osman and Jarrett Allen added 10 apiece for Cleveland. The Cavaliers shot 54% from the field, going 52.4% on 3-pointers.

Detroit guard Derrick Rose returned after missing two games with a sore left knee, scoring 13 points in 19 minutes off the bench. Wayne Ellington had 17 points.

Cleveland Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro (35) passes against Detroit Pistons' Mason Plumlee (24) and Detroit Pistons' Saddiq Bey (41) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Cavaliers power forward Larry Nance Jr. was unavailable for the second straight game after spraining his right wrist at Boston on Sunday.

SIMILAR STRATEGY

Pistons coach Dwane Casey is encouraged by Cleveland’s development, specifically mentioning Sexton and Garland. The Cavaliers are seventh in the East after finishing with the second-worst record in the NBA last season. “A couple of years ago, Cleveland was where we are now,” Casey said. “They’re an exciting up-and-coming team, like we want to be.”

Detroit Pistons' Jerami Grant (9) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro (35) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

TIP-INS

Pistons: F Blake Griffin (left knee) and G Killian Hayes (right hip) were inactive. Griffin is not playing in back-to-back games for precautionary reasons. … Rookie G Saben Lee was assigned to the G-League in a procedural move. “Saben would have been inactive with Derrick (Rose) back, so this will save days on his two-way contract,” Casey said.

Cavaliers: Garland made his first start since returning from a sprained right shoulder on Jan. 22. The second-year pro missed eight games, but coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he is no longer on a minutes restriction. … F Kevin Love (right calf strain), G Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) and rookie F Lamar Stevens (abdominal strain) were inactive.

Cleveland Cavaliers' Dylan Windler, left, knocks the ball loose from Detroit Pistons' Mason Plumlee in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

UP NEXT

Pistons: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

Cavaliers: At New York on Friday night.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers' Collin Sexton, center, is stopped by Detroit Pistons' Sekou Doumbouya, left, and Josh Jackson in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 122-107. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen, center, drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart and Detroit Pistons' Sekou Doumbouya, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Collin Sexton (2) shoots over Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart (28) and Wayne Ellington (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Andre Drummond, left, shoots over Detroit Pistons' Mason Plumlee in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland (10) drives to the basket as Detroit Pistons' Josh Jackson (20) knocks the ball loose in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)