DETROIT (AP) — Eminem, Kid Rock and Big Sean welcomed the Detroit Pistons back downtown.
And the Motor City’s NBA team gave their fans a reason to cheer.
Tobias Harris scored 17 of his 27 points in the first quarter and had 10 rebounds, helping Detroit celebrate its return to the city with a 102-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
The Pistons and Charlotte opened the season in Little Caesars Arena, a new facility that drew them downtown for the first time in nearly four decades. Eminem made a surprise appearance, grabbing the microphone to fire up the crowd just before tipoff.
“I don’t think any of us knew that was coming,” Harris said. “That was really dope.”
Eminem slipped away from the arena floor, and was later introduced to NBA Commissioner David Silver by former Pistons star Grant Hill. Kid Rock and Big Sean, a couple other Motor City musical artists, sat in baseline seats at the opposite ends of the court.
Dwight Howard had 10 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks in his debut with the Hornets.
“This is a long season, so we can’t panic after one game,” Howard said. “The champs lost (Tuesday night), so anything can happen. We just have to learn from tonight and be better for Friday. We’ll do that.
Charlotte’s Kemba Walker scored 24 points, and Jeremy Lamb had 15.
Reserve Langston Galloway scored 16 points, Avery Bradley had 15, and Henry Ellenson added 13 points for Detroit. Reggie Jackson had 13 points and eight assists. Detroit’s point guard spent the final seconds of the game hugging teammate Andre Drummond at midcourt, soaking up the feel-good moment after a disappointing season.
“We were just talking about how we have to lead each and every night and be our best selves,” Jackson said. “If we want to do something special, we have to do it on a day to day basis.”
The Pistons outscored Charlotte 27-18 in the second quarter, building an 11-point lead they didn’t have much trouble keeping.
