AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons wanted to improve their bench in the offseason. Their home exhibition debut showed that the reserves already are a lot more effective.
Flip Murray came off the bench to score 19 points Monday night to lead the Pistons to a 90-85 win over the Utah Jazz.
Fellow sub Jason Maxiell added 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
"Some of our new guys off the bench continued to impress," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said, singling out Murray and Maxiell.
Maxiell, who played just 159 minutes as a rookie last season, and Murray, signed as a free agent in the offseason, made a handful of critical plays as Saunders rested his starters late in the game.
Maxiell had all three blocks, including a late deflection when the Pistons were guarding a five-point lead, and Murray added six points and three assists in the final period.
"The most important thing for me is to come off the bench and be aggressive," said Murray, who played last season with Cleveland and Seattle. "That's what me and Max are here to do.
"
The Jazz got 15 points apiece from Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Brewer.
Utah (1-2) never led in the second half but got as close as 84-81 when Jarron Collins hit a pair of free throws with 2:25 to play. Maxiell made a running jump shot and Carlos Delfino followed with a dunk to give the Pistons control.
Both coaches used their starters sparingly after the first quarter as the teams combined for 35 turnovers and each shot under 50 percent from the field.
The Pistons scored 12 points off Utah's 13 first-half turnovers and led 43-39 at the break. Murray, signed as a free agent to lighten the load on starters Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, led the Pistons with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting at the half.
Nazr Mohammed, departed center Ben Wallace's replacement, had 12 points for the Pistons (3-1) and Billups added 11 points and six assists.
Saunders said he hopes his team, which was outrebounded 44-30, improves on the boards.
"It's disappointing we didn't rebound as well," he said.
"There were a lot of longer rebound that we didn't secure enough and that is something we are going to just have to keep working on."
Paul Millsap had 11 points for the Jazz, who were without regulars Andrei Kirilenko (back) and Derek Fisher (bruised pelvis).
The Pistons finished with the NBA's best record last season but lost to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals.
Detroit's bench, which often yielded offense only from Antonio McDyess, was one of the culprits.
"Our bench is really going to be strong," Billups said. "It's nothing against the bench we had last season but we'll be more effective there this year.
" Notes: Detroit Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez received a loud ovation when introduced during the first quarter. The Tigers host Game 1 of the World Series on Saturday. .
.. The Pistons will change the start times of preseason games Sunday and Oct.
24 and 25 to avoid going against World Series telecasts.
Copyright 2006 The Detroit News. All rights reserved.
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