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Pistons Roll In Home Finale, 116-77 Over Hornets

By NOAH TRISTER/AP Sports Writer

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Andre Drummond had 15 points and 19 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons turned their home finale into a rout, 116-77 over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

Greg Monroe scored 17 points in what might have been his final home game at the Palace. Monroe is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Noah Vonleh led Charlotte with 16 points.

Drummond was dominant early, helping Detroit to a 30-10 lead after the first quarter, and the Pistons stretched it in the second. A jumper by John Lucas III made it 53-19 with 4:28 left in the half.

At that point, the Hornets were 5 of 30 from the field.

Jodie Meeks had 24 points for the Pistons, who finished 18-23 at home, while Anthony Tolliver added 17. Reggie Jackson had 13 assists.

Monroe was drafted by the Pistons with the seventh pick in 2010, and he's been a steady contributor ever since, but Detroit has been unable to make the playoffs in that span, and this has been another mediocre season.

A restricted free agent last offseason, Monroe signed a one-year qualifying offer to stay with Detroit. That move set him up to become an unrestricted free agent in 2015.

If the Pistons lose Monroe, they will still have one of the game's most promising young big men in the 21-year-old Drummond. He posted his fifth consecutive double-double and 47th of the season.

Drummond made an acrobatic play in the first quarter Sunday. He was fouled on an alley-oop pass from Jackson, but still managed to tip the pass into the basket. The Pistons closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to lead by 20.

TIP-INS

Hornets: Despite the poor start, this was not Charlotte's lowest-scoring game of the season. The Hornets have been held under 70 points three times. ... Charlotte was without Al Jefferson (right knee soreness), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (left ankle sprain), Lance Stephenson (right toe sprain) and Cody Zeller (right shoulder soreness).

Pistons: Detroit won its 31st game of the season, its most since going 39-43 in 2008-09.

UP NEXT

Hornets: Host Houston on Monday night.

Pistons: At Cleveland on Monday night.

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