Nets fall to last place in division with loss to Pistons

The Brooklyn Nets, with their enormous payroll and enormous expectations, fell to 3-10 on Sunday, when a 109-97 home loss to the Detroit Pistons left them in sole possession of last place in the Atlantic Division.

With its fifth consecutive loss, Brooklyn dropped half a game behind the New York Knicks. The Nets heard boos at Barclays Center in the second half.

Joe Johnson made eight three-pointers and scored 34 points, but the short-handed Nets couldn’t overcome another cold night from high-priced veteran newcomers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, who shot a combined seven for 22. Point guard Deron Williams and center Brook Lopez again sat out because of ankle injuries.

Reserve Rodney Stuckey had a season-high 27 points for Detroit.

at Oklahoma City 95, Utah 73: The Thunder improved to 6-0 at home despite playing without All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, who rested his surgically repaired right knee. The Jazz, off to the worst start in franchise history, lost its sixth in a row and fell to 1-14.

Phoenix 104, at Orlando 96: Goran Dragic scored 23 points and Gerald Green had 20 as the Suns won their second straight.