Detroit Pistons end west coast trip with loss to Rockets
By Ash Vanclay
The Detroit Pistons traveled to Houston to take on the Rockets on Thursday night on their last game of a six game West Coast trip. The Detroit Pistons ended up losing in overtime to the Houston Rockets, 100-96. The Detroit Pistons managed a respectable 2-4 record over the span of this tough road trip.
With a total of 12 lead changes for the game and the game tied 15 times, the game was always in the balance.
The Detroit Pistons had a little bit of a run to end the first quarter and were up by six points at the first break. The Houston Rockets came back a little bit in the second quarter and finished the half only down by two; however it wasn’t from the usual suspect in James Harden. As he was well held by the Detroit Pistons defense and was only able to make 1 field goal for the entire first half!
However, his temporary starting running mate in Eric Gordon was able to pick up the slack and seemed to be able to score at will.
It was a scrappy game that continued to go back and forth as evidenced by the fact that both teams shot below 25 percent from the three-point line, and the Detroit Pistons led both teams in field goal percentage at 42.1.
The second half followed the same formula with the last few minutes of regular time quite frantic. A lot of contact was allowed by the referees towards both teams in the last few plays with no team able to score in the final 30 seconds.
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The overtime period was just as scrappy with both teams managing to add just a meager two points each in the first half of overtime!
From that point on the Houston Rockets started making a few shots, with the Detroit Pistons unable to keep up until the final 30 seconds where they made back to back three’s thanks to Blake Griffin and Ish Smith, but they weren’t able to produce the stops and the Houston Rockets made their free throws to seal the game.
Reggie Jackson managed 20 minutes in his second game back from his ankle injury. He looked good initially hitting a few quick buckets, but begun to force things a little bit as the game went on.
Stand out Players:
Detroit Pistons: Blake Griffin had his first triple double in a Detroit Pistons uniform with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals. Andre Drummond added 17 points, 20 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Ish Smith added 18 points off the bench, but shot way too many threes (despite making 2 of them), and Luke Kennard had a breakout game where he was able to keep the Detroit Pistons in the game by making some smart plays and hitting some shots. He added 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 32 minutes but fouled.
Houston Rockets: Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 22 points, also adding 3 rebounds, and 5 assists. James Harden finished with 21 points (4-20 from the field), 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
The Detroit Pistons next game will be at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night against long time rivals the Chicago Bulls.