clarinews@clarinet.com (01/13/90)
_A_l_t_e_r_n_a_t_e_ _l_e_a_d AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (UPI) -- The Detroit Pistons have had trouble this season with the NBA's new expansion teams and Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves was no different. Isiah Thomas scored 23 points and Joe Dumars added 19 to rally Detroit to a 97-86 win over Minnesota. Tony Campbell led all scorers with 28 for Minnesota, 7-28. Tyrone Corbin added 17. Detroit, which has been beaten only twice in 17 games at home this season, has won 11 of its last 13 outings. ``It's kind of embarrassing to know that you should be beating a team by 10 or 15 points and go find yourself four points down in the third quarter,'' said Detroit's Dennis Rodman who had 15 rebounds to go along with 12 points. ``You ask yourself what the heck is going on and go out and take a shot or do something.'' The Timberwolves opened the second half by hitting their first seven shots from the field and eight of their first 12. A Sidney Lowe jumper gave them a 60-56 lead with 6:16 to go in the third quarter, their biggest advantage of the game. Detroit, 23-12, regained the lead and took a 69-66 edge into the fourth quarter. The Pistons opened the final period with seven straight points to build a 76-67 advantage with 8:42 remaining in the game. Minnesota cut the lead to 85-80 with 3:45 left, but couldn't get any closer. Pistons' coach Chuck Daly was impressed with his first look at the Timberwolves. ``Their style is difficult to play against,'' Daly said. ``They are very patient with the ball. ... They're doing an outstanding job with that team for an expansion team.'' Minnesota coach Bill Musselman was pleased with his team's performance, but credited the Pistons' backcourt with the victory. ``Vinnie Johnson, Joe Dumars and Isiah are such mobile scoring guards,'' said Musselman whose team has lost four straight. ``That's the key to their game. They really shut us down when it mattered, but our whole ball club played well tonight.'' Minnesota led once during the opening half after it went on a 8-0 run to erase a 31-25 Piston lead. Donald Royal's layup with 7:59 remaining in the second quarter capped the rally and gave the Timberwolves a 33-31 edge. The Pistons led 48-42 at halftime behind 11 points by Dumars. Corbin had 11 at the half for the Timberwolves. ``It was one of those games where we just had to wait and wait until we could get a time when we could make a run,'' said Dumars. ``You can't get frustrated and start getting out of your game plan.''