Nets Crush Pistons to Open Road Trip

Deron Williams scored 31 points in 28 minutes, and the Brooklyn Nets routed the hapless Detroit Pistons 119-82 Monday night in the opener of their eight-game road trip.

Detroit lost its ninth straight and fell to 2-13 since the All-Star break. Pistons coach Lawrence Frank returned after missing six games to be with his seriously ill wife. Frank is planning to return to New Jersey before Detroit plays Friday in Miami.

The Nets, coming off a 12-point loss to Atlanta on Sunday, pulled within a half-game of New York in the Atlantic Division, with the Knicks playing later Monday at Utah.

Brook Lopez added 18 points and seven rebounds, while former Pistons guard Jerry Stackhouse had 10 points in his first game since Jan. 26.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)