The Pistons had a three-game winning streak heading into tonight's home finale against the Cleveland Cavs, which is as close to a sure thing for a season-high four-game winning streak as you can possibly get (you know, without actually getting it). But, remember, it's the 2011 Detroit Pistons we're talking about here -- the Pistons fell by a score of 110-101. The loss seals Detroit's fate as the No. 7 seed for the May 17 lottery.
Rodney Stuckey led all with 29 points on 8-14 shooting (13-13 from the line) and also dropped 14 assists (opposite just two late turnovers). Good time for games like that.
The real action, however, came when Charlie Villanueva went all Gnarls Barkley on Ryan Hollins [via MLIVE]:
Charlie Villanueva and Ryan Hollins become locked up with each other on the court with 5:47 left in the game. Each raked the other across the face with his hand before the two were separated.
A few moments later, after both were ejected, Villanueva tried to get at Hollins but was wrestled toward the tunnel by Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey and head of security Jerry Hendon. As he made his way down the tunnel, Villanueva gestured toward Hollins as if challenging him to meet him in the locker room area.
According to reports by witnesses, Villanueva later raced out of the Pistons locker room and ran toward the Cavaliers locker room. At one point, he yelled, "I'm going to kill that dude." Police eventually restrained Villanueva in a loading dock area between the locker rooms and led Villanueva back to the Pistons locker room.
According to MLIVE's James Schmehl, Hollins threw an elbow that caught Villanueva in the lip and then said something 'smart.' If some scrub intentionally elbowed me in the lip and then told me, a six-foot-eleven power forward, "your rebounding rate is sub-standard and, thus, you're not a worthy player; QED," I'd probably snap, too.
If you missed the game, here's the incident in question with fitting music:
A little more on the game after the jump:
- New Pistons owner Tom Gores (head tilt, what's up?) was seen dancing on the jumbo, looking cool as ever at the game.
- Greg Monroe notched another double-double on the ol' belt with 10 points and 10 rebounds. That's Moose's 20th double-double of the season!
- Pistons shot over 60-percent in the first quarter, but were outscored 63-42 in the middle two quarters.
- Jason Maxiell was impressive on the glass early and finished with 14 in 32-plus minutes.
- Tracy McGrady did not dress. NBA.com box score says "rest." It's a long season, but it's a much more grueling off-season.
- Will Bynum did not dress due to a right knee strain.
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Chris Wilcox during CV ejection?
- Box score
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