AUBURN HILLS, Mich. _ Make it three in a row.
The Detroit Pistons beat back a second-half push from the New York Knicks to pull away late to a 102-89 victory at the Palace Tuesday.
Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris combined for 47 points to outduel the Knicks more bally-hoed tandem of Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis (42 points).
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 19 points and was 4-for-6 from 3-point range, as the Pistons (3-1) concluded a perfect three-game home stand. All three victories were by double digits.
After two straight 20-20 nights, Andre Drummond was relatively quiet with nine points and 13 rebounds. He also was 1-for-6 at the free-throw line.
Derrick Rose scored 19 points for the Knicks (1-2). Former Piston Brandon Jennings scored 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting.
Neither team showed an inclination to play defense in the first quarter.
Anthony bullied his way to nine points on 3-for-5 shooting, but Morris matched him by making his first four shots in scoring nine. Morris' wide-open 3-pointer gave the Pistons a 25-21 lead at the 3:55 mark of the first quarter.
The Pistons took a 32-26 lead into the second quarter. Both teams shot over 53 percent.
The Knicks received a boost from Jennings in the second quarter. He scored 10 points and his corner triple cut the Pistons lead to six at 52-46 at the 3:46 mark.
Morris got the better of Anthony in one-on-one match-up late in the second quarter. Morris crossed over Anthony for an easy lay-up to give the Pistons a 57-50 lead.
Anthony tried to answer against Morris and missed a clear-out 3-pointer.
The Pistons pushed the ball up the floor and Caldwell-Pope found Morris for an easy three-pointer to give the Pistons a 60-50 lead.
The Pistons settled for a 64-55 lead at halftime, with Morris' 16 points leading the way.
The Knicks cut the deficit to three points several times in the third quarter, but a Jon Leuer lay-up gave the Pistons an 86-79 lead going into the fourth quarter.
