Brand scores 25 as 76ers top Pistons 104-94, extending Detroit’s longest skid since 1994 to 12

76ers beat Pistons 104-94, Detroit’s skid now 12

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Elton Brand matched a season high with 25 points and was one of six double-digit scorers for the Philadelphia 76ers in a 104-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.

Detroit has lost 12 straight in its worst slump since April 1994.

Pistons reserves Ben Gordon had 20 points and Charlie Villanueva scored 19, while fellow former Connecticut star Richard Hamilton missed his first 10 shots and finished with 12 points.

Allen Iverson didn’t make his relatively anticipated return to The Palace, drawing boos from the crowd when it was announced he would not play because of an injured left knee. Iverson had a short and unsuccessful stint with Detroit last season after it acquired him from Denver for Chauncey Billups to create salary-cap space and playing time for Rodney Stuckey.

The 76ers (11-25) have been slightly worse than Detroit (11-24) this season, but they were easily good enough to win the lackluster matchup.

They led 26-10 after a quarter, 56-30 at halftime and relaxed enough to let Detroit have comeback hopes.

The Pistons pulled within 17 after three quarters and cut their deficit to 86-75 with 6 minutes left, then they collapsed on the hot-shooting Brand and he set up rookie Jrue Holiday’s 3-pointer that essentially sealed the win.

Detroit rallied to trail by single digits in the final minute to make the score look respectable after it was lopsided for much of the night.

Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert each had 16 points, Willie Green scored 15, Lou Williams had 14 and Thaddeus Young made two free throws in the final seconds to finish with 10 points.

Brand was 10 of 16 — making several fadeaway jumpers — off the bench.

Pistons rookie Austin Daye scored all of his 10 points in the second half after not playing in the first and Ben Wallace had 10 points.

Stuckey (sore right knee) and Tayshaun Prince (sore left knee) did not play in the second half because of injuries and perhaps a 26-point deficit.

The Pistons scored just 10 in the first quarter, matching their season low in any quarter, as they missed 19 of 23 shots. They were held to a season-low 30 in the first half after shooting just 29 percent.

Detroit scored six straight to pull to 42-28 midway through the second quarter, then had the momentum stunted when Williams made a 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired.

The 76ers closed the half with a 14-2 run that gave them a cushion that came in handy when Detroit showed a pulse late in the third quarter and early in the fourth.

NOTES: The Pistons lost 14 straight during the 1993-94 season — before a 13-game skid that same season in March — to match a franchise record set in March of 1980. … Gordon’s jumper with 3:51 left in the first half was the 10 millionth point in NBA history. New York’s Ossie Schectman scored the first point in the league on Nov. 1, 1946, at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. … Detroit G Will Bynum (left ankle) missed his fifth straight game. … Green was presented with a proclamation from the City of Detroit at halftime for his charity work in his hometown.