AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- With interim coach John Loyer hoarsely shouting instructions, Brandon Jennings and the Detroit Pistons ran away from the San Antonio Spurs in the third quarter. Jennings finished with 21 points, and the Pistons beat San Antonio 109-100 on Monday night in Loyers first game at the helm. Detroit abruptly fired Maurice Cheeks on Sunday after only 50 games as coach, but although theyve been unimpressive for the most part this season, the Pistons have played better lately. The comfortable win over the Spurs was Detroits fifth in seven games. "I told them it was going to be an emotional day," Loyer said. "I told them I thought we can play, collectively, for longer periods of time better than we have." Rodney Stuckey scored 20 points for the Pistons, and Greg Monroe added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Marco Belinelli led the Spurs with 20 points. Detroit pulled even with Charlotte for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Pistons have shown flashes recently of the potential they thought theyd have this season. After signing Josh Smith and trading for Jennings in the off-season, Detroit is barely ahead of last seasons pace in terms of wins and losses. Jennings has been terrific lately, though. After scoring 35 points with 12 assists Saturday against Denver, he orchestrated another strong offensive effort Monday. San Antonio, meanwhile, turned the ball over eight times in the third quarter, when Detroit pushed its lead from 11 to 20. The Spurs finished with 19 turnovers, giving the Pistons all the help they would need. "We lost the game because we probably played the worst defence weve played all season, especially in the first half," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "We didnt bring it mentally or physically, and the Pistons did." Loyers sideline demeanour was quite a change from Cheeks more calm approach. At one point, Loyer came all the way across midcourt to give instructions as the Pistons were trying to hold on. "Theyre both two different coaches," Jennings said. "One is loud, the other one is kind of laid back. Theyre both great guys -- especially Cheeks. Hes like a father figure to me, so hes definitely going to be missed. But this is the NBA, so I know how that goes." The Pistons went on a 12-2 run in the third to take a 73-52 lead, then added a few more highlights later in that quarter. Smith threw down a one-handed dunk after a turnover by San Antonio, and Jennings made a layup after Detroits Andre Drummond blocked Aron Baynes shot emphatically off the glass. Jennings missed from the perimeter, then stole the ball near midcourt and went in for a three-point play to make it 84-62. "I told the guys today, just when we were in the locker room, Im so proud of them," Loyer said. "I only thought there was about a three-minute period where they showed more energy, more determination than us. You show determination, hustle for 45 of the 48 minutes, youre going to be pretty successful most nights." San Antonio is in the midst of a nine-game road swing. Belinelli was back after dealing with back spasms, but the Spurs were without Manu Ginobili (left hamstring) and Kawhi Leonard (right hand). The Pistons went on a 15-4 run in the second quarter, capped by a 3-pointer by Jennings that put them ahead 57-45. "They played hard," San Antonios Danny Green said. "They wanted to play with some passion and they got loose balls." NOTES: The Pistons have won five straight at home after starting 7-15 at The Palace. ... After Cheeks firing, Popovich was asked about the key to his longevity with the Spurs. "I have information on everybody," he joked. "And Ive threatened everybody Ill let it out unless they keep me as long as I want to stay." ... Ginobili has joined the Spurs on this road trip, but hes not expected to play until after the All-Star break. Adidas Superstar φθηνα . John Albert Elway, 24, was booked into jail early Saturday morning after an incident near a college campus in downtown Denver, according to jail records. Adidas Human Race ελλαδα . The team reported the signing on its website Thursday, but said Friday the deal was off in "a mutual parting of the ways that had to do with the language of the contract. http://www.nmdgreece.com/adidas-falcon-greece.html. Hall joined Bengals teammates for a voluntary workout on Monday. Hes got his mobility back and is on schedule to be ready for the season. CINCINNATI - Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is happy with his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon and expects to be ready for the start of training camp in July. Adidas NMD μαυρα . Louis Blues and back into top spot of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings. The Sharks had been ranked No. Adidas Gazelle γκρι . Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter also scored for the Americans, who avoided a repeat of Finlands upset at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. Finnish goalie Noora Raty made 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian could stop just 40 of 43 U.GLENDALE, Ariz. -- After withstanding an early flurry by the Phoenix Coyotes, the Anaheim Ducks cruised to a victory. Dustin Penner scored two goals as the Ducks handed the Phoenix Coyotes their first home loss in regulation this season, 4-2 Saturday night. Sami Vatanen had a power-play goal and Corey Perry also tallied for the Ducks in the win over the Coyotes, who were 9-0-2 this season at Jobing.com Arena. Anaheim is the last team to remain undefeated at home in regulation. "After we stopped them early, we started to play our game," said goalie Jonas Hiller. "It was good they didnt score and that gave us some confidence." Following a shutout at Tampa Bay on Friday night, Jonas Hiller earned his second straight victory and improved his season record to 9-3-2. In the two wins, Hiller stopped 73 of 75 shots. The Coyotes dominated play at the start but had nothing to show for it -- they outshot Anaheim 8-0 in the first five minutes. The Ducks first shot came 8 minutes in, when Andrew Coglianos shot bounced off goalie Mike Smith in the crease. Shane Doan scored on a tip-in with 4:20 remaining in the third. He also assisted on Mike Ribeiros second-period goal and has at least a point in each of his last eight games. The Ducks extended their record to 3-0 against Pacific Division rivals Phoenix. Two games remain between the teams this season. We talked about getting off to a good start," said captain Ryan Getzlaf, who picked up a point in his fourth straight game. "We have a great deal of depth on this team and guys stepped up during important points in the game." The Coyotes had 15 shotts on Hiller in the first, two short of their season high for a period.dddddddddddd. But the Ducks scored first. On the power play, Penner positioned himself in front of Jeff Halpern and easily converted a pass from Nick Bonino from the right side into his fifth goal of the season at 11:11 of the period. Despite having the second-best home power-play percentage, the Coyotes were 0 for 3 with the man advantage in the opening period. The Ducks had an opportunity to increase their lead five minutes into the second but Smith stopped Emerson Etem on a penalty shot. Just over 2 minutes later, Ribeiro tied it 1-all when he poked in a rebound at 7:27 of the second. The Ducks then countered with two goals in less than 3 minutes. Penner scored his second of the night on a 2-on-1 break with a shot through Smiths pads at 8:03. Perry then beat Michael Stone in the slot and flipped a wrist shot behind Smith at 11:01. Vatanen converted a pass from Mathieu Perreault at 12:43 for his second goal of the season and a 4-1 lead. "Look at how they scored," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. "The first one was on a power play, the second and third on giveaways and the fourth on the power play. We lost battles in front of the net and along the wall. Weve been losing those battles lately and its a concern." NOTES: At the start of the third period, Thomas Greiss replaced Smith. . Coyotes Martin Hanzal left in the first period with a lower body injury and did not return. ... Perry appeared in his 600th NHL game. ... Coming into the game, the Coyotes and Ducks were tied for third in goals with 76. Chicago has 85, San Jose 77. ' ' '