NEW YORK -- Nearly two years ago, Stan Van Gundy stood in a crowded hallway at Barclays Center and lamented how the Detroit Pistons did not have chances to win the way they defended and vowed changes to the roster he was coaching.At the time of Van Gundys impassioned plea for improved defense, the Pistons had dropped 23 of their first 28 games.Detroit split the final 54 games of 2014-15, won 44 games last season and is projected to be a middle seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Pistons wound up 14th in points allowed two seasons ago, improved to 12th last season and have allowed the second-fewest points per game so far.Detroits defense will look to remain effective Wednesday night when it visits the Brooklyn Nets.The Pistons began Van Gundys third season by allowing 109 points in an 18-point loss at Toronto last Wednesday. The Pistons followed it up by holding Orlando and Milwaukee to 82 and 83 points, respectively, in double-digit victories.On Tuesday, Detroit continued its positive defensive trends in a 102-89 win over the New York Knicks. After allowing 55 points in the first half, the Pistons allowed 10 in the fourth quarter and held the Knicks scoreless in the final 5:40.We just kept saying in the timeout that to win, were going to need to make a defensive stand, Van Gundy said. We were skating on thin ice for a long, long time. Theyd get it down to three and wed get a couple of hoops. Then the last (5:30), we were able to get it done.Tobias Harris scored 25 points and Marcus Morris added 22 points for Detroit, which is 3-1 for the second straight season.Its real satisfying, Harris said. Its something that when we came into the timeout, that was our emphasis. Lets go out there and get stops, lets get rebounds and lets see how many we can string together to come out with this victory.While the Pistons have been playing strong defense, the Nets have struggled defensively through most of their first four games. Although Brooklyn held Indiana to 15 points in the fourth quarter Friday, it is allowing 111 points per game, has given up seven 30-point quarters and allowed opponents to shoot 47 percent.The Nets lost their first two games at Boston and Milwaukee by a combined seven points and were never in Mondays 118-88 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Nets gave up 38 first-quarter points, trailed for the final 45-plus minutes, shot 34 percent and made 5 of 31 3-pointers.I just think we didnt have that normal pop or that explosiveness or the normal hunger that we normally have on the defensive end, actually just in general, Brooklyn guard Jeremy Lin said. We didnt have that normal spirit or that normal energy that we play with. Tonight everybody came out flat and you know, its time to get our bodies right and well be good and well be ready on Wednesday.An area where the Nets will have to be ready is rebounding and blocking out Detroit center Andre Drummond, who leads the league with 15.5 rebounds per game. Brooklyn has allowed 49.8 rebounds per game by opponents, which is the third-highest in the league.Were addressing it, Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said. We understand its a weakness and an area weve got to get better.Another area where the Nets will have to be improved is backup point guard play. While Lin has averaged 16.3 points, his primary backups, Randy Foye (mild right hamstring strain) and Greivis Vasquez (sore right ankle), will not play Wednesday.Those injuries mean Isaiah Whitehead will likely see a decent amount of time again. The rookie had a difficult home debut by shooting 3 of 11 and committing five turnovers in 21 minutes.I think whoever we put in there, we expect them to do their job and play the way we want them to play, Atkinson said. So it could be a rookie, a second-year guy, a veteran and when a guy is out the next guy has to step up and play.The Pistons have won four of the last five meetings with the Nets since allowing 110 points and 52 percent shooting on Dec. 21, 2014. The only players remaining on their roster since then are Drummond and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Bob Lilly Youth Jersey .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Tony Pollard Youth Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Emmitt-Smith-Jersey/ . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Tony Dorsett Womens Jersey . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Tony Pollard Womens Jersey . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Tavon Blackmon and Joshua Howard scored 20 points apiece and Brown rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half to beat Morgan State 81-75 on Wednesday.Blackmon made all four of his 3-point attempts and had six assists, giving him 380 in his career to tie the senior for No. 3 all-time at Brown. Steven Spieth added 15 points and nine rebounds. Brown shot 51 percent and made 9 of 20 3-point tries.Brown (2-4) trailed by 12 with 12 minutes remaining after a 100-0 run by Morgan State (2-3).dddddddddddd Brown immediately responded with its own 10-0 run and took the lead for good on two Obi Okolie free throws with 1:37 left. A 3-point play by Howard and two free throws by Blackmon extended the lead to 79-73 with 26 seconds left.Phillip Carr scored 20 points, Kyle Thomas 16 and Tiwian Kendley 15 for Morgan State. ' ' '