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Pistons snap Bucks’ streak

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MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Detroit Pistons owned the NBA's worst record. The Milwaukee Bucks were the defending NBA champions.

None of that mattered Monday night as Saddiq Bey scored a career-high 34 points to lift Detroit to a 115-106 victory that snapped the Bucks' six-game winning streak.

"Growing in this league is not easy, but this is an excellent step for us to take," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said.

It also enabled them to step out of the Eastern Conference basement.

The Pistons' triumph improved their record to 7-28 and moved them ahead of the Orlando Magic, who now have the NBA's worst winning percentage.

Milwaukee had won 12 consecutive regular-season matchups with the Pistons by an average margin of 16.7 points before Monday. That streak didn't include the Bucks' four-game sweep of Detroit in a 2019 first-round playoff series.

That streak ended even though the Bucks had their top three players - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday - all available. This marked just the third time all season that the Bucks have lost when they've had all three of those players in the starting lineup.

"They did a great job of just moving the ball, finding the open guy, knocking down shots, not letting us get momentum," Antetokounmpo said. "They played well. They played real well."

Milwaukee attempted to erase a 13-point deficit in the final two minutes. But after Holiday's 3-pointer narrowed the margin to five with 47.1 seconds left, Detroit's Cade Cunningham converted a putback of his own miss with 27.8 seconds remaining.

The Bucks wouldn't threaten again.

"My teammates trust me with the ball at the end of the game after missing so many games," said Cunningham, who hadn't played since Dec. 21 due to the NBA's health and safety protocols. "I appreciate them for that. I'm glad I got to make the play."

Josh Jackson, Trey Lyles, Killian Hayes, Saben Lee and Rodney McGruder also were back from protocols. Jackson had 24 points and Lyles scored 11.

"I thought I was going to be a little winded out there, but I didn't get as tired as I was expecting," Jackson said.

Hamidou Diallo added 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Pistons.

Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Holiday scored 29. Bobby Portis had 12 points and 14 rebounds. Middleton added 10 points.

Detroit was 18 of 43 and Milwaukee shot just 11 of 46 on 3-point attempts.

"This is a big win for us, a breath of fresh air for sure," Cunningham said. "Everybody can kind of cool out and now just play their game, not think so much. When you're losing, all that other stuff is kind of amplified, all the problems you're having and whatever. When you can find ways to win, stick together through tough games and pull out a victory, everything else you can work through a lot easier."

TIP-INS

Pistons: This marks the second time in a week that Bey has established a career high in scoring. He had 32 against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. … Jackson's 24 points were a season high. … Cory Joseph and Isaiah Stewart remained unavailable because of league protocols.

STOCK UP

Adams has 52 catches for 634 yards and eight touchdowns over his last six games. … Rodgers has thrown 18 touchdown passes without an interception over his last six games. … After a midseason slump in which he made just six of 14 field-goal attempts, Mason Crosby has gone 9 of 10 over his last five games. … OLB Rashan Gary has recorded three sacks over his last two games to increase his season total to 9 1/2. … OLB Preston Smith has delivered four sacks over his last four games to move his season total to nine.

STOCK DOWN

TE Josiah Deguara. He couldn't hang on to a pass in the end zone on the game's opening drive as the Packers settled for a field goal.

INJURIES

OT Dennis Kelly and S Darnell Savage went on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday. … WR/PR David Moore was placed on the practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list.

KEY NUMBER

1,000 -- Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon have become the first Packers running back duo to each have over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the same season since Eddie Lee Ivery and Gerry Ellis in 1980. Dillon went over the 1,000-yard mark Sunday and has 740 yards rushing and 309 yards receiving. Jones has 799 yards rushing and 391 yards receiving.

NEXT STEPS

The Packers hope to avoid any major injuries as they close the regular season at Detroit on Sunday.

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