APPLICATION » responsibilities.BBilly and Adam OBrien, our

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Right now, Aron Baynes is probably best known for his samurai-style haircut.If Andre Drummond misses much more time, Baynes could become known for his rugged play.With Drummond sidelined by a sprained ankle, Baynes had 20 points and eight rebounds to help the Detroit Pistons beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-88 on Monday night.This was because of everyone else, Baynes said. They got me the ball in great position, and all I had to do is finish. They were drawing the defense and I was left with the easy part.Baynes came within a point of his career high and played tough defense on Steven Adams, who had just four points in 29 minutes.As the president of the franchise, I probably shouldnt promote my own players, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. But Aron is a starting center in the NBA. The only reason people dont know that is because weve got an All-Star ahead of him.The Pistons (6-5) improved to 5-0 at home despite being without Drummond and Reggie Jackson, who hasnt played this season due to knee tendinitis.Our defense at home has been great, Van Gundy said. Im not quite sure why we havent been able to duplicate that on the road yet, but were locked in at home.Russell Westbrook had 33 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for Oklahoma City (6-5), which has dropped four in a row. Victor Oladipo finished with nine points, but he was the only other starter to score more than four.Im not worried about our offense -- thats fine, Westbrook said. It is our defense. Weve got to defend at a high level, and were not doing that.Andre Roberson, who finished with four points in 29 minutes, said the Thunders defensive struggles are being amplified by their inability to hit shots.This is a humbling moment for us, he said. Weve got to find a way to get past the lack of jump shots going in.Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 17 points for Detroit.The Pistons used their post players to build a 59-47 halftime lead despite Westbrooks 25 points. Oklahoma City missed nine of 10 3-point attempts in the half, and Oladipo went 1 for 7 from the floor. Harris and Baynes each scored 13 points.Detroit led by as many as 19 in the third, but its reserves didnt have as much success as they had in the first half. The Thunder finished the quarter with a 13-2 run to trail 78-68.Despite Westbrooks best efforts, the Thunder couldnt put together a serious run down the stretch. On several occasions, he was able to pull defenders toward him and find an open teammate, only for them to badly miss the shot.TIP-INSThunder: Westbrook scored Oklahoma Citys last 14 points in the first half. ... Jerami Grant and Enes Kanter combined to hit nine of 16 shots in the first three quarters, helping keep Oklahoma City in the game. ... Westbrook picked up a technical foul in the first half for an accidental low blow against Caldwell-Pope.Pistons: Detroit is the last team in the NBA to be undefeated at home. ... With Drummond sidelined, the Pistons only grabbed one offensive rebound in the first half. ... Baynes got hit on his protective mask by Westbrook late in the fourth, and needed medical attention to stop the bleeding from his previously broken nose. Tonight was my last night with the mask, and it was good to have it on, he said.JUST TOO LATEWestbrook almost had 28 first-half points, but a replay review showed his 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer was still in his hand when time expired.BACK ON THE ROADAfter a four-game road trip, the Pistons were only making a brief stop at home. They play their next two games on the road before coming back to the Palace on Saturday.I thought this was an outstanding homestand, and I cant wait to get back on the road, Van Gundy joked.UP NEXTThunder: Return home to host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.Pistons: Travel to Madison Square Garden to play the Knicks on Wednesday. Detroit beat the Knicks 102-89 on Nov. 1 behind 25 points from Harris. Carmelo Anthony led New York with 24 points. Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. MLB Jerseys For Sale . PAUL, Minn. http://www.chinajerseysmlb.com/ . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Cheap Baseball Jerseys Online . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Wholesale MLB Jerseys . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Injured fullback Billy Slater wont physically take part in Melbournes NRL premiership push but the superstar is still helping the Storm.He managed just one game this season because of a shoulder injury and the 33-year-old is no certainty to return in 2017.Slater could be excused for seeking solitude in September, knowing he wont be on the park to help Melbournes bid for their first title since salary cap sanctions.But the 2011 Dally M winner has remained a sounding board for protege Cameron Munster, who looms as a key player in Saturday nights AAMI Park qualifying final between Storm and North Queensland.He knows a lot about the finals stage and I had a bit of a chat to him the other day, Munster said on Wednesday.Just embrace it and just enjoy it - thats pretty much what he said.And just dont take anything for granted.Billys a class player and a freak of a talent, so Im a little bit different to him but Im trying my best to fill that position.Munster covered for Slater in 2015, including the finals series, and has impressed as a regular No.1 for the minor premiers in 2016.He noted Slater had helped him become more comfortable with the added responsibilities.BBilly and Adam OBrien, our assistant coach, have helped me a lot with our plays, our structure and that sort of stuff, he said.ddddddddddddunster will need to be at his best to defuse a potent Cowboys side led by gifted playmaker Johnathan Thurston.The 21-year-old, who hails from Rockhampton and was part of the Cowboys development squad before joining the Storm, is still in awe of Thurston.I did look up to him. Hes a really good player and a freak of a talent, so to play against him I still pinch myself every now and then, Munster said.Weve got to be on our game for him and I guess try and minimise his timing and vision.Its going to be very hard because hes one of the best players in the world.Well be trying to put him off his game as much as we can.Melbourne have defeated the Cowboys twice this season but Munster knows that isnt cause for confidence against the reigning premiers.Its a different season, he said.Theyve been really consistent this year. We know were going to have to produce our best performance against them (to win). ' ' '