Detroit Pistons falter in 4Q in 121-115 loss to Houston Rockets: Game thread recap
Detroit Pistons (16-60) vs. Houston Rockets (18-59)
When: 8 p.m. Friday.
Where: Toyota Center, Houston.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WWJ-AM 950.
WEDNESDAY'S ACTION: Unlucky whistle clouds just how well struggling Pistons fared vs. near-playoff team
Game notes: The Pistons have already locked up a spot in the top three of the NBA draft lottery (set for mid-May) — which gets them a 52.1% chance of a top-four pick, and a 14% shot at No. 1 — as they’re 9 ½ games “up” on No. 4 team Charlotte with just six games to play. But a loss to the woeful Rockets tonight would all but lock up the No. 1 spot; Houston enters the game 1½ “back” of Detroit. (San Antonio, by the way, is No. 3, at 19-57.)
These two teams, of course, ended up picking first and second overall back in the 2021 draft. The Pistons took Cade Cunningham, who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and made the All-Rookie first team. Joining him on the All-Rookie team was No. 2 pick Jalen Green. The 21-year-old has been even better this season, averaging 21.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists a game. It has come on volume shooting, however, as he’s averaging 17.7 shots over 34.1 minutes a game while shooting just 41.5% overall and 33.5% from beyond the arc.
The Pistons, of course, have only gotten a few games out of Cunningham this season, due to a shin injury. But that has allowed their 2022 No. 5 overall pick, Jaden Ivey, plenty of time to develop. Ivey has been on a tear over his past six games, averaging 19.7 points, 6.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 34.6 minutes; he has also found his 3-point stroke, hitting 42.1% from beyond the arc over that span.
After this one, the Pistons have just five games remaining; they’ll start their April countdown to the draft lottery on Sunday in Orlando before getting their home finales on Tuesday and Wednesday, against Brooklyn and Indiana, respectively. The Rockets, meanwhile, will have just four games left, starting with a visit from the L.A. Lakers on Sunday night, followed by their home finale against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons lose to Houston Rockets, 121-115: Game thread recap
