Valanciunas scores 33 points, Pelicans beat Pistons 116-110

Published Jan. 13, 2023 9:37 p.m. ET

Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Jonas Valanciunas scored 13 of his 33 points in the first quarter and the New Orleans Pelicans went on to beat the Detroit Pistons 116-110 on Friday night.

New Orleans' CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III each had 19 points and Naji Marshall added 17. The Pelicans played without a trio of injured players: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herbert Jones.

Detroit was short-handed, too, missing Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, Marvin Bagley III and Cade Cunningham.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 14 of his 22 points in the first quarter and made a jumper with 3:17 left to pull the Pistons within three points.

Detroit was called for a second delay of game violation coming out of a timeout, giving the Pelicans a free throw that Murphy made and Valanciunas made a shot in the lane to give them a six-point lead.

Saddiq Bey had 20 points for Detroit, Jaden Ivey had 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists, reserve Hamidou Diallo scored a season-high 19 points before fouling out and Killian Hayes had 17 points.

The 7-foot Valanciunas took advantage of Detroit’s thin and short frontcourt, making 12 of 15 shots and grabbing 16 rebounds.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: Williamson, who is out with a strained right hamstring, has missed 14 games this season and played in 29 games. He signed a five-year, $193 million extension that has the potential to be worth as much as $231 million after missing all of last season with a foot injury and being limited to 85 games over his first two seasons. ... Ingram (toe) and Jones (back) were also out of the starting lineup.

PISTONS: Stewart (shoulder) was ruled out after the team's shootaround. .. Cunningham atttended his first game since having shin surgery last month.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: At Cleveland on Monday.

Pistons: Host New York on Sunday.

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