Knight scores 30; Pistons beat Cavs 104-97

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(AP) Brandon Knight scored a career-high 30 points and the Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time in six days with a 104-97 win on Saturday night.

The Pistons, who won for just the second time in 12 road games this season, took control with a run that began late in the third quarter and carried into the fourth period.

Tayshaun Prince scored 14 points while Jason Maxiell added 11 for the Pistons, who defeated the Cavaliers 89-79 on Monday in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Jeremy Pargo scored 24 points for Cleveland, which has lost five straight, nine of 10 and 15 of 17.

Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao, who scored 16 points and had 13 rebounds, went to the locker room late in the second quarter with a bruised left elbow. X-rays were negative and he returned to begin the third quarter with the elbow wrapped.

Knight scored 23 points in the second half, including 13 in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland again played without leading scorers Kyrie Irving (broken left index finger) and Dion Waiters (sprained left ankle).

Coach Byron Scott said there’s a chance one or both could return for Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, but neither player has been cleared by doctors.

Trailing 62-54 late in the third quarter, Detroit grabbed the momentum and took a 71-68 lead on Knight’s 3-pointer. Knight scored 10 points in the period and the Pistons took a 76-70 lead into the fourth quarter.

Charlie Villanueva hit a pair of 3-pointers to help the Pistons take a 14-point lead early in the fourth. The Cavaliers cut the lead to 99-95 on Varejao’s free throw with 40.1 seconds left, but Rodney Stuckey’s basket with 18.3 seconds left gave the Pistons a six-point lead.

Cleveland used a 24-7 run in the second quarter to take a 46-36 lead, but Detroit rallied and trailed 52-49 at halftime. The Pistons went ahead 54-52, but the Cavaliers scored 10 straight points for a 62-54 lead.

Stuckey and Maxiell each scored 10 points for Detroit, which committed only nine turnovers.

C.J. Miles scored 15 points while Tyler Zeller added 13 for Cleveland. Varejao’s streak of consecutive double-doubles ended at 10 Friday against Minnesota when he had four points and 14 rebounds.

NOTES: The Pistons play at Philadelphia on Monday, the site of their only road win prior to Saturday . ... Detroit coach Lawrence Frank was one of Scott’s assistants with the New Jersey Nets. I worked for him for three years, so I know that his teams are always prepared, Frank said. They also tend to take on some of Byron’s personality, being tough-minded groups that never make excuses. ... Cleveland scored 22 points in the first quarter after 14.7 in the first period in its previous three games. ... The Cavaliers begin a stretch of four games in five nights Tuesday.