Jonas Jerebko chipped in 16 points and seven boards and Ben Gordon returned after a 10-game absence due to a shoulder injury to score 14 points for the Pistons, who improve to 7-20 overall with the recent surge.

The teams will meet again Friday at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Nets shot 34 percent in the first half and trailed by as many as 18 points in the third quarter before they began to climb back into the game, cutting it down to 74-67 entering the fourth quarter.

Deron Williams tried to get it all back himself, capping an 8-2 run with a four-point play to draw New Jersey within 78-77 with 8:27 remaining. A brief surge put Detroit back in control despite three more 3-pointers from Williams in the final 5:50.

Williams scored 17 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and added seven assists for New Jersey, which fell for the fourth straight time.