The Detroit Pistons (11-20) couldn’t get it done tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers (22-10), losing at home 125-109. The Pistons were short-handed again tonight, with Luke Kennard (knee) and Bruce Brown Jr. (calf soreness) out for the home team. Pistons starting center Andre Drummond did not make the start tonight due to being late to the team’s shootaround.
The Pistons kept it close through most of the first quarter, trading the lead with the 76ers and never trailing by more than two points early on. That was until former Piston and current 76ers forward Tobias Harris put Philly up by five with a three-point make 3:49 left in the quarter. Philly started to pull away afterward and took a 30-23 point lead to end the first quarter.
The Pistons brought it back by going on a 14-8 run early in the second quarter and trailed by just one point (38-37) with 8:26 left until halftime after a three-point shot from Pistons guard Svi Mykhailiuk. Shortly after, the Pistons took their first lead since being ahead 11-10 in the first quarter after a layup from Drummond that gave Detroit a 41-40 lead. The 76ers were able to pull ahead again and took a 60-52 lead to end the first half. Tobias Harris led the 76ers at the end of the first half with 17 points and five rebounds. Markieff Morris and Andre Drummond both led the Pistons in scoring with 10 points each entering the end of the half.
The Pistons went on an 8-0 run to start the third quarter, cutting Philly’s lead to just two points (60-58). After trading baskets, the 76ers were able to regain control. A Ben Simmons layup gave Philly an 82-72 lead with 4:05 left in the third quarter. The Pistons were able to cut the lead into single digits (94-86) with a layup from Derrick Rose to end the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, a corner three from James Ennis III gave the 76ers a 101-92 lead with 8:37 left in the game. A shot made by Josh Richardson gave the 76ers a 103-92 lead, forcing the Pistons to take an early quarter timeout. Tensions started to flare between Blake Griffin and Tobias with 5:21 left to play in the game, with both receiving double technical fouls. A three from Furkan Korkmaz put Philly ahead of Detroit 114-97 with 4:45 left to play in the game. The Pistons continued to fight but weren’t able to come back in tonight’s defeat.
Andre Drummond led the way for Detroit off the bench, scoring 27 points to go along with nine rebounds. Derrick Rose scored 16 points for the Pistons. The Pistons bench outscored the starters tonight 69-40.
For the 76ers, Tobias Harris led the way with 35 points and seven rebounds. Ben Simmons messed around and got a triple-double tonight for Philly, scoring 16 points to go along with 13 rebounds and 17 assists. Philly’s All-Star center Joel Embid finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Including tonight’s defeat, the Pistons have now lost five straight games. The Pistons will enjoy the next few days off before facing the Washington Wizards this Thursday in another home game.
