Detroit — In some ways, the game was over before it really got started. It was a disturbing first quarter for the Pistons against the Sacramento Kings that led to another lopsided loss. It was just the way things started that made the lead tough to overcome for the final three quarters.
The Kings jumped to a 31-12, in the opening period, and they cruised the rest of the way, though the Pistons kept the final margin close to that initial span in the 129-107 loss.
Opening quarters hadn’t been as big an issue in the previous games.