Pistons look to rebound from heartbreaking loss
The Detroit Pistons appear to have a good chance to rebound from a heartbreaking loss, though nothing has come easy for them against the Philadelphia 76ers.
As they try to avoid a fifth straight road defeat, the inconsistent Pistons look to end their inexplicable struggles in their series with the woeful 76ers on Friday night.
Although Detroit (12-11) has been tough to beat at home, it had a five-game winning streak there snapped Wednesday when Matt Barnes hit a half-court shot with 1.1 seconds left to give Memphis a stunning 93-92 victory.
Andre Drummond finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds, while Reggie Jackson contributed 18 points and seven assists. The Pistons held the lead throughout the second half but were outscored 26-18 in the fourth quarter in their second straight defeat.
"It's the toughest loss all season," Jackson said. "It was a good basketball game, just with something unimaginable and unexplainable happening at the end."
Detroit has been solid offensively at home, averaging 109.6 points on 46.3 percent shooting in its last five games. The production has waned on the road, where the Pistons have scored 89.6 on 38.8 percent shooting while dropping eight of nine.
Jackson has averaged 22.5 points and made 20 of 47 (42.6 percent) from 3-point range in 11 home games, but he's only scored 10.2 while missing 21 of 26 from 3 over his last six on the road. The point guard appeared to injure his leg late in the first half Wednesday before playing the final two quarters with a brace on his knee.
Jackson, averaging a team-high 19.3 points, has scored 10.3 on 31.8 percent shooting in his last four against Philadelphia dating to his time with Oklahoma City.
The Pistons should be able to end their road woes against Philadelphia, but the 76ers have had more success against them than any other opponent over the past 20 months. They've won four of five meetings, including three in a row at home.
NBA-worst Philadelphia (1-22) beat Detroit last season after a 1-18 start and is hoping to do it again while ending a deadlock with the 1993-94 Dallas Mavericks and 1970-71 Cleveland Cavaliers for the worst start in league history.
After suffering the fifth-largest defeat (51 points) in franchise history to San Antonio on Monday, the 76ers couldn't hold on after taking a four-point lead into the fourth quarter of Thursday's 100-91 loss at Brooklyn.
Jahlil Okafor had 22 points and 10 rebounds in his second game since returning from a two-game suspension. Robert Covington, though, was held to six points on 3-of-10 shooting after averaging 17.1 over his previous nine.
"I'm trying to play more games and just getting (my) flow back," Okafor said. "I'm going to try to keep getting better and play every game."
Philadelphia, which shot 39.1 percent and 4 for 31 (12.9 percent) from 3-point range, ranks last in the NBA with 90.8 points per game and a minus-5.2 rebounding margin.
Although they have the league's leading rebounder in Drummond (16.7), the Pistons have been outworked 110-84 on the glass in their last two games. Drummond has only averaged 7.6 points and 10.0 boards in his last five against Philadelphia.
The Pistons have scuffled offensively in this series, shooting 37.1 percent - including 29.6 from beyond the arc - in the past five meetings.
