CHARLOTTE, N. Jack Youngblood Jersey .C. -- The Detroit Pistons got back in the win column Friday night, while the Charlotte Bobcats got a talking to from owner Michael Jordan. Jonas Jerebko tied a career high with 22 points and the Pistons won the race to three victories Friday night against the Charlotte Bobcats, 98-81 to snap a six-game losing streak. Both teams entered the game with identical 2-9 records and on lengthy losing streaks. The Pistons got strong inside play from Jerebko and Greg Monroe, who chipped in with 19 points and nine rebounds. They dominated inside, scoring 50 points in the paint through the first three quarters to open a 78-59 lead. This one wasnt even close as the Pistons led by 12 at the break and were never challenged in the second half. Jerebko, from Sweden, tied his previous career high from back in 2009. "I was trying to take it to the basket and get a couple of easy ones that way instead of just shooting jump shots," said Jerebko, who also had nine rebounds. "I got a couple of easy ones, layups and then the jump shots came after that. We had some glimpses against Milwaukee and tonight I think we had a complete game instead of just half a game and I think it showed on the court." Pistons coach Lawrence Frank wouldnt say it was his teams best performance of the season, but called it a step forward. "There are a couple of different outcomes that happens in a game," he said. "You lose, and you play the right way. You win and play the right way. You lose and dont play the right way, and you win and dont play the right way. I thought we won and we played the right way, with purpose." The Pistons got numerous uncontested shots in the middle and made the most of them. When Jerebko and Monroe werent ripping up the Charlotte interior defence with some nifty passing, Ben Gordon and Brandon Knight were hitting from the outside. All five starters finished in double digits for the Pistons, including Gordon with 14 points and Knight, who added 13 points and had 10 rebounds. "My teammates attacked the gap of the zone that created opportunities for me and I was able to knock them down," Knight said. "Players like (Damien) Wilkins and (Rodney) Stuckey that created certain opportunities for me, those shots wouldnt have gone in or I wouldnt have been able to take them." The Bobcats have lost six straight, prompting Jordan to meet with his players in a closed-door session inside the locker room for about five minutes after the game. "He just came in the locker room and said we have to play better than that," said Bobcats forward Boris Diaw, who has been held to a combined three points in his last two games. "(He said) that Detroit is not a team thats better than us, and tonight they did play better than us. We have to find a way to win." Thats easier said than done for a Bobcats team light on talent and heavy on youth. Coach Paul Silas was again critical of his players toughness after getting outrebounded 46-34. "Well, I saw a team that dominated us inside," Silas said. "Points in the paint, like 52, I think, to 36. Thats kind of the game right there. Weve got to have more toughness and we didnt tonight. Its just not a good sign for us." When asked how you teach toughness, Silas seemed a loss for words, but hinted that changes could be coming in the future if he doesnt see improvement. "I think its engrained in you," Silas said. "I can talk about it as much as I want to but if a player is not tough, theres nothing I can really do. You know, youve just got to seek out the players that are and that are willing to take the hit and are willing to hit back, that kind of thing and you go forward with that." Byron Mullens led Charlotte with 18 points, the eighth time in 10 games hes reached double digits. Mullens remains one of the few bright spots for the Bobcats, who continue to struggle with their shooting and rebounding with veteran leader Corey Maggette still out with a strained hamstring. Kemba Walker had 16 points and D.J. Augustin had 13 assists for Charlotte. It was the Bobcats fourth game in five days and they looked like a very lethargic team. Theyll complete a back-to-back-to-back Saturday night against Golden State. The Pistons host the Warriors on Sunday. NOTES: Jerebko had struggled with foul trouble in recent games with 14 fouls in four games, but it wasnt a problem against the Bobcats. ... The Pistons hit 7 of 14 3-point attempts, while the Bobcats made just 1 of 8. ... Diaw attempted a free throw for the first time in nine games, over 200 game minutes. ... The Bobcats have by far the leagues worst point differential, losing by an average of 13 points per game. ... Augustin came within one of tying a career high for assists. Jared Cook Jersey . Fans can follow 150+ hours of Wimbledon coverage across TSN platforms – TSN, TSN2, TSN GO, and TSN Radio. French-language coverage of Wimbledon is available on RDS. As the undisputed Canadian home of the biggest events on the tennis calendar, TSN continues its exclusive coverage of Grand Slam tennis following record ratings from the French Open – including more than 1. Eric Dickerson Jersey . PAUL, Minn.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Howie Kendrick had a two-run single in his first game batting leadoff this season, Chris Iannetta hit a pair of RBI singles and the Los Angeles Angels beat Cleveland 6-4 Tuesday night, sending the Indians to their fifth straight defeat. Cleveland also lost All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis to an abdominal strain in the fourth inning. Jered Weaver (2-2) allowed two runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings, striking out six and walking one. The Angels ace threw 90 pitches and was lifted after giving up four consecutive hits, including a two-run homer by Carlos Santana. Joe Smith, the seventh Angels pitcher, tossed a perfect ninth for his second save in two nights against his former teammates after he was thrust into the closers role last Friday in place of an ineffective Ernesto Frieri. Corey Kluber (2-3) gave up four runs -- three earned -- and four hits over 4 2-3 innings with five strikeouts and four walks. The right-hander escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, retiring Albert Pujols on a popup after an intentional walk to Mike Trout and then striking out Raul Ibanez with the Indians trailing 2-0. The Angels put runners at the corners in the fifth with the help of a successful replay challenge by manager Mike Scioscia, after first base umpire Gabe Morales ruled J.B. Shuck out on a potential double-play grounder to second base that was corrected to a fielders choice. Shuck stole second, and Kendrick chased Kluber with a two-run single to centre for a 4-0 lead after a walk to Collin Cowgill. That was the only official at-bat for the Angels second baseman, who got plunked by Klubers second pitch of the game, had a sacrifice bunt in the fourth and walked in the seventh. Kendrick became the fifth player Scioscia has started in the leadoff spot. It was the 12th time Kendrick has started there iin his nine-year career, the rest coming in 2010. Sam Bradford Rams Jersey. . He is 13 for 47 with two homers, 10 RBIs, four walks and eight runs scored when starting atop the lineup, and the Angels are 9-3 in those games. Santana, who hit a three-run homer in Monday nights series-opening 6-3 loss, got the Indians off the mat in the sixth with his two-run shot to right field after a single by Mike Aviles. Michael Brantley then snapped an 0-for-17 drought with a double and went to third on a single by Asdrubal Cabrera that chased Weaver. But Michael Kohn struck out Yan Gomes with the bases loaded after a two-out walk to David Murphy and a visit from pitching coach Mike Butcher. Yoslan Herrera gave way to Nick Maronde with the bases loaded and none out in the Cleveland seventh, and Santana drew a four-pitch walk that forced home a run. Brantley followed with a sacrifice fly that cut the Angels lead to 5-4 and brought in Kevin Jepsen, who struck out Cabrera and retired Jason Giambi on a deep fly. Aviles took over at second base in the fourth for Kipnis, who left with an abdominal strain on his right side after grounding into a double play. NOTES: Ibanez was the only player on the Angels roster that Kluber had faced before. ... Shuck ended a career-worst 0-for-22 drought with a hit-and-run single in the fourth. ... Weaver has pitched 873 innings and faced 3,492 batters since his last intentional walk on Sept. 4, 2009, at Kansas City. ... Cabrera and Santana had two-out bunt singles in the second and fourth, respectively. ... The Indians demoted Wednesdays scheduled starter, RHP Carlos Carrasco, to the bullpen with an 0-3 record and a 6.95 ERA in four outings. RHP Zach McAllister will start on three days rest for the first time in his career after throwing 75 pitches over five innings Saturday in a loss at San Francisco. ' ' '
