Pistons fall to Kings 100-94 after poor final quarter
The Detroit Pistons have put together an all-time fourth quarter collapse to lose 94-100 to the Sacramento Kings.
Despite controlling the majority of the game the Detroit Pistons were outscored 32-17 in the final quarter and were unable to match the Sacramento Kings’ big shots down the stretch.
Only two days after a double-overtime win in Portland, the Pistons seemed to run out of steam as the game was on the line, with a number of awful offensive possessions giving Sacramento the chance to steal a victory.
Clutch threes from Garrett Temple and DeMarcus Cousins nailed the coffin shut for the Pistons, however it was what the Kings did with Cousins off the floor that setup the comeback.
Former-Piston Anthony Tolliver turned back the clock as he dropped 17 points, while Kosta Koufos (12 points, 8 rebounds) was tremendous as Cousins sat for a lengthy stretch of the fourth quarter due to foul trouble.
By the end of the game the Kings were superior in almost every team statistic.
The Kings led the Pistons in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage, assists and rebounds.
The only categories where the Pistons led the Kings were in steals and blocks, thanks largely to Andre Drummond.
Drummond was by far the Pistons best despite relatively low and misleading point and rebound totals.
He finished the game with just 9 points and 12 rebounds, but also added 3 steals and a career-high 7 blocks.
B-. <a rel=. PG. Detroit Pistons. REGGIE JACKSON
<a rel=. SG. Detroit Pistons. KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE. A-
D. <a rel=. SF. Detroit Pistons. MARCUS MORRIS
B+. <a rel=. PF. Detroit Pistons. TOBIAS HARRIS
Andre Drummond was nothing short of superb against the Kings. Only two days removed from playing 51 minutes in the Pistons’ double-overtime win against Portland he managed to come away with 3 steals and career-high 7 blocks, to go with 9 points and 12 rebounds. Drummond was also inside DeMarcus Cousins’ head for most of the night, frustrating him to the point where it seemed Cousins may end up doing something to result in being ejected. The only downside of his performance was a woeful night from the charity stripe where he went 1 of 6.<br />. C. Detroit Pistons. ANDRE DRUMMOND. A
PG. Detroit Pistons. ISH SMITH. D+. <a rel=
Detroit Pistons. STANLEY JOHNSON. D+. <a rel=. SF
D+. <a rel=. PF/C. Detroit Pistons. HENRY ELLENSON
C+. <a rel=. C. Detroit Pistons. BOBAN MARJANOVIC
F. <a rel=. C. Detroit Pistons. ARON BAYNES
Stan Van Gundy’s coaching was close to flawless up until halftime. The Pistons looked incredible on both ends of the floor and it appeared that the home team was in danger of being blown out. Van Gundy, who doesn’t usually tinker with his rotations too much, looked to guys like Henry Ellenson and Boban Marjanovic to play a role in the first half, however he moves away from this after the break. The team’s offensive play calling also completely fell apart in the final few minutes of the game.. Head Coach. Detroit Pistons. STAN VAN GUNDY. B-