— Andre Drummond set career highs in rebounds (14) and blocks (5) in Detroit’s win over the Wizards Friday, and had 11 points to record the third double-double of his career.

Drummond, who is a Connecticut native, also paid tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy in Newton, Conn. Drummond played Friday’s game with 28 SH’s on his shoes, one for each victim.

— Rodney Stuckey left Friday’s game after taking a shot in the mouth. One of Stuckey’s teeth was pushed back, but not out. Stuckey did not return Friday, but was expected to play Saturday in Washington.

— Stuckey leaving Friday’s game led to Pistons rookie Slava Kravtsov making his NBA debut. Stuckey was fouled driving in for a layup when he got hit in the mouth. Since Stuckey couldn’t return to shoot his free throws, the Wizards got to choose who on the Pistons bench would shoot them and chose Kravtsov.

Kravtsov hit one of two and was taken out of the game seconds later. But since the game a blowout, Kravtsov later returned and had a dunk with 22.1 seconds left.

“Slava stepped in and made one of two, that’s not easy,” Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. “It was nice to be able to get him in a game. He stayed with it and finished with a dunk, good taste in his mouth.”

— Greg Monroe is just one of three players averaging more than 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in the NBA. Atlanta’s Al Horford and Golden State’s David Lee are the other two.

Like nearly every parent and American, the tragedy in Newtown, Conn. Friday hit close to home for Pistons coach Lawrence Frank.

Frank, who is the father of two young girls, was sickened by the events.

“It’s sad the evil we have,” Frank said. “I can’t even imagine what the people are going through in Newtown. I don’t know how you put it into words, that type of event.

“Every parent sends their kid to school to learn,” Frank added. ‘You assume that they’re safe. To me, the fact that some sick, sick, sick, sick human being can do what he did, how do you explain that? It’s inexplicable."

The Pistons happened to be in Brooklyn Friday, near where Frank’s wife and kids live in New Jersey.
Frank had a chance to spend time with his family, who accompanied him back to Detroit. A trip that was planned long in advance.

Frank said he talked to his daughters about the tragedy and wanted to be very honest and truthful with them.

“One of the things you get from that incident is how so many people were helping each other,” Frank said. “Whether it was students helping students, teachers helping students, the police helping teachers, the police helping students, whatever. To deal with a tragic, tragic, tragic situation. How does the country, how does the school systems, react from this point forward? What are the gun laws?

“There’s no justification, no rationalization. To me, you just explain to them that, there are some people who are just sick, sick people. You can’t explain what they do. I don’t know, it’s horrific.”

Despite the tragedy, Frank and the Pistons had to play a game Friday night against the Nets.

Frank said he found out about the incident after shootaround and while it put basketball in perspective, he also had a job to do.

“How can you not break down and cry about what those people are experiencing?” Frank said. “We’re all human. It’s our job obviously, but you also have to put it in proper perspective. Relative to what happened there, it’s truly, truly insignificant. Yet at the same time it’s like anything else that happens to you in your life off the court, whether it’s health, death, the sanctuary for many is that court.

“Once you’re in your preparation, you have to be just focused on the task at hand. Once that event is over, you can go back and your mind can drift towards whatever the situation may be.”

One lucky Pistons fan is going to get the opportunity to travel to London to see the Pistons take on the New York Knicks on Jan. 17.

To enter join the Hardwood Club, the Pistons fans club tailored for men or the Pistons Playmakers, the fan club tailored for women.

The winner will receive round-trip airfare to London, England for them and one guest, hotel accommodations, two tickets to see the Pistons play the Knicks at The O2 Arena, a London public transportation card to see the sights during a three-day stay, Pistons merchandise and a meet and greet with Pistons Entertainment Teams in London.

Fans can sign up from now until Jan. 1 and must visit pistons.com/london to fill out the entry form. A background check and valid passport proof will be required for the winner and guest. Winner must be 18 years or older.

AUBURN HILLS — The Pistons won their fifth straight game at home Monday, the first time they did so since 2009.

Detroit hasn’t beaten any “elite” teams during that stretch, with Boston being the only team with a winning record, but to coach Lawrence Frank a win is a win.

“I’ve never believed in the teams you should beat because then what happens for the teams, ‘You’re not supposed to beat,’ ” Frank said. “To me, on any given night, anyone can beat anyone. That’s why no one is going perfect at home. From our confidence standpoint, the way we win and there’s obviously a lot of things to clean up, but there is finding a way to win and winning on our terms.

“Tonight was a game we won shooting 42 percent. That’s a good thing because we held them to 33 percent. We had great rim protection. But like I said, I’ve never bought into that one’s you should beat because to me on any given night, anyone can beat anyone.”

The Pistons have been able to play well at home despite poor crowds at The Palace. The announced attendance Monday was 11,352, but it was clearly the smallest home crowd of the season.

Detroit is currently dead last in the NBA in attendance.

“I’ve said this from Day 1, Detroit has had a great history of fan support,” Frank said. “It is upon us and when I say us, the entire team and the organization, to give fans a reason to come to the games. People aren’t going to come out of just blind loyalty. You can’t hang your hat on what you did, it’s what you’re earning.

“I think if we continue to play, continue to improve, the fans see you got a bunch of guys that are busting their tail every day, I think this town more so than any other town there is, appreciates hard work. I think as long as we embody that, I think more and more people will come out. The onus is on us. It’s not on the fans. The onus is on us to put together a product that’s worth coming out for.”

The Pistons have two more home games this week and will look to extend their home winning streak when they host Golden State Wednesday and Chicago Friday.

Knight feeling better

Brandon Knight was a game-time decision Monday night after suffering a left thigh bruise in the Pistons loss to Dallas Saturday.

Knight ended up starting, playing nearly 34 minutes and finishing with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.

“I honestly didn’t know,” Knight said of whether or not he was going to play Monday. “Yesterday it didn’t feel too good on my leg. God is good, allowed me to be healthy today. Working with Arnie (Kander), a lot of treatment. I was able to get warmed up pretty well. I felt a lot better.”

Knight doesn’t expect the injury to keep him out moving forward saying after the game he was, “good.”

Dave Pemberton covers the Pistons for The Oakland Press. Email him at dave.pemberton@oakpress.com and follow him on Twitter @drpemberton.