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Detroit Pistons rally past Timberwolves for 129-123 OT win

MINNEAPOLIS — It was another close game for the Pistons. And in a reminder that he is capable of clutch performances, Reggie Jackson helped to deliver a much-needed Pistons victory Wednesday night. Jackson scored 24 points on 7-for-13 shooting in the Pistons’ 129-123 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Blake Griffin and Reggie Bullock combined for 67 points and 12 3-pointers to lead the Pistons (15-14), who won for the second time in nine games. Andre Drummond collected 16 points and 16 rebounds, and nailed a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down in overtime. Detroit shot 20-for-48 from 3-point range (41.7 percent). But after being benched for the fourth quarter in two straight games for Jose Calderon, Jackson was needed in this game, and delivered with 10 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. His alert full-court rush against a Timberwolves defense slow to get back resulted in a layup and a 126-123 lead with 1:28 remaining. Jackson added six assists and was 3-for-5 from the 3-point line. Griffin scored 34 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added four assists. Bullock scored a career-high 33 points on 7-for-12 3-point shooting. Derrick Rose led the Timberwolves (14-17) with 33 points. Down 92-78 after the third quarter, it appeared the Pistons were going to pull it out late. Jackson’s corner 3-pointer gave the Pistons a 116-115 lead with 30.8 seconds left. The Pistons forced a tough shot for Rose and Griffin rebounded the miss. But he threw it away and Robert Covington nailed a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Timberwolves a 118-116 lead with 7.4 seconds left. The Pistons called timeout and Jackson missed a running layup. But Drummond was there for the put-back to force overtime. The Pistons surged at the beginning, scoring the first 12 points of the game. Every member of the starting lineup scored, with Bullock’s 20-footer completing the 12-0 start. Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau called timeout. The Wolves answered with a 10-0 run with Rose and Taj Gibson scoring four points each. The Pistons took a 27-26 lead into the second quarter. It appeared Jon Leuer had supplanted Zaza Pachulia on the second unit. Leuer looks fully recovered from injuries that sidelined him for nearly a year. When Pachulia missed the win over the Boston Celtics last week with an illness, it opened the door for Leuer, who has been the first big man off the bench since the second half of the Dec. 12 loss at Charlotte. But after the second unit struggled in the first half Wednesday, Pistons coach Dwane Casey turned to Pachulia in the second half. Overall, Leuer played five minutes, and Pachulia played four minutes. Contact Vince Ellis: vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56 .