AP

Olynyk’s buzzer-beater in OT ends Pistons’ skid vs. Hornets

Feb 27, 2022, 5:21 AM | Updated: 8:04 pm

Detroit Pistons forward Kelly Olynyk scores the game winning basket over Charlotte Hornets forward ...

Detroit Pistons forward Kelly Olynyk scores the game winning basket over Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington during overtime in an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


              Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee scores past Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
            
              Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier passes around Detroit Pistons guard Hamidou Diallo and Isaiah Stewart, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
            
              Charlotte Hornets Montrezl Harrell is fouled by Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
            
              Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier passes around Detroit Pistons guard Hamidou Diallo and Isaiah Stewart, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
            
              Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin scores past Detroit Pistons guard Rodney McGruder during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
            
              Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier shoots between Detroit Pistons forward Kelly Olynyk, left, and guard Cory Joseph during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
            
              Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin shoots against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
            
              Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey shoots over Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
            
              Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey celebrates a game winning basket by forward Kelly Olynyk during overtime in an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
            
              Detroit Pistons forward Kelly Olynyk scores the game winning basket over Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington during overtime in an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kelly Olynyk made a fadeaway jumper from the baseline at the overtime buzzer and the Detroit Pistons beat Charlotte 127-126 on Sunday night, their first victory over the Hornets in nearly 4 1/2 years.

Saddiq Bey had 28 points and eight rebounds and Jerami Grant added 26 points for Detroit, which had lost 15 straight games to the Hornets since its last win on Oct. 18, 2017.

Olynyk had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Pistons, who have won three of four. Rookie Cade Cunningham scored 19 points.

It was Olynyk’s first NBA game-winner.

“It took me nine years, but I’m here,” the 30-year-old Olynyk said.

Charlotte got 33 points from Terry Rozier and 29 points and 10 rebounds from Miles Bridges.

P.J. Washington — who sent the game to an extra period when he scored off an offensive rebound — missed a layup with 20 seconds left in OT that would have given Charlotte a three-point lead.

After Cunningham missed a jumper, Detroit won a jump ball with 6.8 seconds left. Cunningham drove but was fouled, giving the Pistons the ball on the side with 2.1 seconds left. The inbounds pass from Killian Hayes went to Olynyk near the baseline and he turned and fired a 13-footer over Washington’s outstretched arm.

Olynyk said the Pistons had an inbounds play drawn up — one they have practiced frequently — but wound up having to improvise.

“Sometimes you have to just read and react in this league,” Olynyk said. “I saw an opening and obviously Killian saw it as well, and that’s half the battle. You have to have both guys on the same page.”

Pistons coach Dwane Casey liked the way his team persevered during a game with 20 lead changes.

“A month ago, we would’ve hung our heads and hung our coat at the end of regulation, but we stayed together and stuck together,” Casey said.

The Hornets had a chance to win at the end of regulation when LaMelo Ball stole an inbounds pass after Washington’s bucket, but the All-Star missed a 16-footer at the buzzer. Ball also missed a 2-footer off an offensive rebound in overtime and finished 6 of 24 shooting from the field for 17 points.

For the Hornets, it was another frustrating loss to one of the NBA’s cellar dwellers.

Earlier this season they lost to the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic — games that could cost them valuable playoff positioning or even knock them out of the postseason altogether.

“We have to fix it,” Bridges said. “We can’t play down to our competition.”

Charlotte fell to 0-6 in overtime games.

“We have to make shots and be better and make a play down the stretch,” coach James Borrego said. “It isn’t tricky here — one rebound, one stop, one free throw, one shot. We continue to put ourselves in position to win games, we just have to find a way to close out and make one more play.”

PLUMLEE’S PROBLEMS

Mason Plumlee’s free-throw shooting is becoming a serious liability for the Hornets. He entered the game shooting 37.3% from the line and went 1 of 7 against the Pistons.

With about five minutes left, the Pistons intentionally fouled Plumlee and he missed two free throws badly, allowing Detroit to steal an extra possession.

TIP-INS

Pistons: Outrebounded the Hornets 54-46.

Hornets: Cody Martin, who missed the team’s final six games before the All-Star break, was a big contributor off the bench, finishing with 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting.

UP NEXT

Pistons: At Washington on Tuesday night.

Hornets: At Milwaukee on Monday night.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Olynyk’s buzzer-beater in OT ends Pistons’ skid vs. Hornets