Pistons hand last-place Nets fifth straight loss

Reserve Rodney Stuckey scored a season-high 27 points and the Detroit Pistons sent the Brooklyn Nets to a fifth straight loss and sole possession of last place in the Atlantic Division with a 109-97 victory Sunday.

Joe Johnson made eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 34 points, but the short-handed Nets couldn’t overcome another cold night from Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, who were a combined 7 for 22.

The Nets had been outscored by 77 points (8.6 per game) in the third quarters of their first nine losses and they were even worse in this one, getting outscored 34-15.

Brooklyn cut a 16-point deficit to 96-91 after consecutive 3-pointers by Johnson, but Stuckey banked in a jumper, and Monroe followed Johnson’s free with a dunk to push the lead to 100-92 with 2:18 to play.

Garnett tied Hall of Famer Gary Payton for ninth on the NBA’s career list with his 1,335th game Johnson lone Nets player to start every game.