Game Recap: Pistons' Comeback Falls Short in Road Loss to Rockets
The Detroit Pistons fell to the Houston Rockets by just a pair on Wednesday night, losing 124-126 in a heated offensive battle. The Pistons stayed with the Rockets throughout the first half, taking advantage of Houston's early foul trouble and hot play from the bench. Highlights include Andre Drummond starting the game off with a three-pointer from the wing and Blake Griffin throwing down a powerful putback dunk over esteemed rim protector Clint Capela:
BLAKE GRIFFIN CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF pic.twitter.com/mDqSmeSxVC
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) November 22, 2018
Blake struggled from the field for the majority of the game, but a late barrage of three-pointers late in the game kept the Pistons in the game until the final buzzer. The All-Star forward finished with a team-leading 37 points along with 11 rebounds and four assists. Andre Drummond also delivered another double-double, finishing with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Ish Smith, Langston Galloway, and Stanley Johnson were the only other Pistons to reach double-digit points, as Reggie Jackson and Reggie Bullock struggled from the field and Glenn Robinson III played just 12 minutes despite starting the game. Surprising no one, it was Houston's backcourt that led the Rockets to victory, as James Harden dominated whenever the Pistons switched a big onto him on the perimeter, finishing with 43 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists. Despite the impressive stat line, Harden got a number of "superstar calls" throughout the match, shooting an impressive 19-19 from the charity stripe. Chris Paul did his damage in the first half, finishing with 20 points and seven assists of his own. Clint Capela also beat down Detroit's interior defense, dunking his way to a superstar-like 27 points and 15 rebounds. The 8-7 Pistons and 9-7 Rockets face off again on Friday at Little Caesar's Arena. Hopefully, the Pistons will make the necessary defensive adjustments to split the season series with the championship-hopeful Rockets. Featured Image - Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports