Charlotte Hornets vs Detroit Pistons Box Score on Oct 18, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 18, 2017

DETROIT -- Tobias Harris poured in 27 points, and the Detroit Pistons celebrated the first regular-season game at Little Caesars Arena with a 102-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.

Harris also grabbed 10 rebounds in the new downtown building.

Avery Bradley, who was acquired in a trade with the Boston Celtics during the summer, had 15 points in his Pistons debut. Langston Galloway contributed 16 points off the bench, and another reserve, Henry Ellenson, tossed in 13. Reggie Jackson added 13 points and eight assists.

Kemba Walker's 24 points led the Hornets in the opener for both teams. Jeremy Lamb added 15 points, and Dwight Howard supplied 10 points and 15 rebounds in his Hornets debut. Howard was acquired in an offseason trade with the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hornets played without two starters, small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and shooting guard Nicolas Batum. Kidd-Gilchrist missed the game for a personal matter, and Batum is sidelined by a torn ligament in his left elbow.

Charlotte trailed by 11 at halftime and never got closer than six points in the third quarter. Bradley's three-point play and Ellenson's jumper gave Detroit a 80-63 lead late in the quarter.

Walker capped a 7-0 Hornets spurt with a 3-pointer to make it 91-81. He drained two free throws with 1:42 left to cut Detroit's lead to single digits at 97-89. Harris then drilled a 3-pointer to effectively put the game away.

The Pistons led 82-70 heading into the fourth quarter. Galloway's steal and 3-point basket in the opening minute of the quarter stretched the advantage to 15. Ellenson's 3-point shot a minute later made it a 20-point game.

Harris and Galloway led the Pistons to a 56-45 halftime lead. Harris scored 17 of his 19 first-half points in the first quarter. Galloway fired in 11 of his 13 first-half points in the second quarter, including a four-point play.

Detroit finished with 14 steals to just four for Charlotte.

NOTES: Hornets PG Michael Carter-Williams (knee soreness) did not play. ... The Pistons' last game in the city of Detroit was at Joe Louis Arena on May 10, 1985. ... The Pistons defeated the Hornets 94-85 in their inaugural game at their previous home, The Palace of Auburn Hills, on Nov. 5, 1988. ... Detroit C Andre Drummond passed Dave DeBusschere for sixth place on the franchise's career rebounding list. ... Charlotte coach Steve Clifford had no hesitation starting rookie SF Dwayne Bacon, a second-round pick. "He can play a role where he's not overmatched physically by these guys," Clifford said. Bacon scored eight points. ... Pistons SG Reggie Bullock began his five-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy.