The Detroit Pistons are learning how to fight, but they aren’t necessarily the last team standing. The Pistons fell to the Houston Rockets 101-99 in an extremely physical game that came down to the final possession.
Down by 3 with the ball and 8 seconds remaining, the Pistons inbounded the ball to Cade Cunningham but Fred VanVleet fouled intentionally to prevent a game-tying shot. Cade made the first and intentionally missed the second, which ricocheted into the corner and found Jaden Ivey. Ivey sidestepped into a difficult corner 3 which came up short, but was rebounded by Tobias Harris who went up for the game-tying shot but was fouled.
Harris missed the first and the Pistons could not secure a shot after he intentionally missed the second.
It was a fitting, chaotic end to a pugilistic battle, which might out-physical the Houston Texans vs. Detroit Lions game on Sunday night. The physicality of the game certainly played into the style the Rockets preferred to play, but the Pistons more than held their own.
Detroit was led by Cunnningham with 26 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, which ended a streak of three consecutive triple-doubles for the Pistons guard.
Isaiah Stewart added 16 points and eight rebounds. Malik Beasley scored 15 and hit four three-pointers off the bench.
The Rockets were led by 27 points and 10 rebounds from Alperen Sengun. Their star of the game, however, was Tari Eason off the bench. He scored 18 points and added nine rebounds, and carried the team in crucial minutes in the fourth quarter to help the Rockets maintain their lead.
On the one hand, it’s great that the Pistons can stay in games, even games that are this physical and put them on their heels. On the other hand, this is their third consecutive game that came down to the final possession, and they have only come away with one victory.
The Pistons will next play on Tuesday for their first in-season tournament game against the Miami Heat.