Valanciunas scores 26, leads Grizzlies over Pistons 96-82

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jonas Valanciunas had 26 points and 17 rebounds, Dillon Brooks added 15 points and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Detroit Pistons 96-82 Monday night to sweep the season series.

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 14 points and Tyus Jones added 13. Valanciunas also had four blocks.

Andre Drummond led the Piston with 25 points and 18 rebounds. Langston Galloway and Christian Wood added 17 each.

While the Grizzlies' offense put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter with a 19-points lead, the defense caused headaches for Detroit throughout the night. Only a 3-pointer in the closing seconds kept the Pistons from recording a season-low in points. Their 34.7% shooting was also close to a season low.

Reggie Jackson finished the game 1 of 16 from the field, and Sekou Doumboya was 2 of 15. The Grizzlies had a season-high 12 blocks.

Memphis beat the Pistons 10 days ago, 125-112, with Drummond out. This time, the Pistons had Drummond, but were without leading scorer Derrick Rose and Markieff Morris.

TIP-INS

Pistons: Rose missed his eighth game of the season with a left hip adductor strain. Rose left Sunday’s victory over Denver with the injury. ... Morris also sat out with right hip strain. ... Their season low for points is 81 at Utah on Dec. 30. ... Their season-low on field goal percentage was 33.7% at Chicago on Nov. 20.

Grizzlies: Jackson and Marko Guduric returned from one-game suspensions handed down by the NBA for leaving the bench during last week’s fracas against the Knicks in New York. ... Earlier Monday, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins was named Western Conference coach of the month for January. ... The Grizzlies previous season high on blocks was 11 on Jan. 28 against Denver. ... The Grizzlies had 68 points in the paint.

UP NEXT

Pistons: Face the Phoenix Suns at home on Wednesday night.

Grizzlies: Face the Mavericks in Dallas on Wednesday night.