AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The last time the Sixers traveled to Detroit, they held the Pistons to just 12 first-quarter points en route to an impressive blowout win at the Palace.
The Pistons got their revenge Monday night.
With Joel Embiid sidelined, the shorthanded Sixers had no answer for Andre Drummond, who grabbed 17 rebounds and posted his 33rd double-double to hand them a 113-96 loss.
It marked the fourth straight loss for the Sixers (18-33), who trailed by 22 points entering the fourth quarter. The Sixers fell to 6-18 on the road this season.
Okafor flourishes in spotlight
Jahlil Okafor’s performance Monday night made it clear why the former first-round pick has drawn heavy trade interest from multiple teams in recent weeks.
Mired in trade rumors, Okafor sank his first three shots and finished with a team-high 16 points. A surprise scratch Saturday, Okafor returned to the starting lineup Monday and flourished in the spotlight after being mentioned as a possible trade target earlier in the day (see story).
NBA
Inside the box score
• After missing three straight games with a right hand contusion, Robert Covington returned to action Monday and responded with 11 points. Covington was spotted wincing after he landed awkwardly on his left knee late in the third quarter. He remained in the game.
• Okafor and Nerlens Noel had their hands full with Drummond, but limited the league’s reigning rebounding leader to two first-half points. Drummond responded in dominant fashion in the second half, finishing with 16 points and 17 rebounds. He entered Monday averaging 14.6 points and 13.6 rebounds.
• T.J. McConnell, who fell an assist shy of a triple-double when the Sixers blew out the Pistons by 18 in December, went 5 for 9 from the field en route to 10 points and seven boards.
• Marcus Morris led all scorers with 19 points.
Injury updates
• Embiid didn’t travel with the team to Detroit because of his left knee contusion. Embiid continues to receive treatment on his knee at the Sixers’ training complex in Camden, New Jersey, according to Sixers coach Brett Brown. Embiid also missed the team’s previous contest in Detroit this season when the Sixers blew out the Pistons by 18 at the Palace.
“[Embiid] is moving forward, for sure. Things are going well back home,” Brown said. “I’m glad that we were able to create an environment for both Ben (Simmons) and Joel back in Philadelphia. It’s moving in the direction that we want. In relation to a timeframe of what that means in his return to play? I don’t know that yet.”
• Simmons, like Embiid, continues to rehab at the team’s training facility from the right foot he fractured the first week of training camp.
• All players who traveled with the Sixers were available to play Monday.
• Pistons small forward Reggie Bullock (illness) was ruled out Monday night.
Odds and ends
87ers center Shawn Long has been picked to play in the NBA D-League All-Star Game, the league announced Monday. Long, a member of the Sixers’ preseason roster, is averaging 20.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per game in 30 D-League games this season.
Up next
The Sixers return home for a rematch against the red-hot San Antonio Spurs, who are riding a three-game win streak. The Spurs (39-11) beat up the Sixers, 102-86, last Thursday in San Antonio, thanks largely to Kawhi Leonard, who dropped 19 points and added eight rebounds.