| The Detroit News
Detroit — In a season where the Pistons have squandered a number of double-digit leads, the Pistons turned the tables and erased a huge deficit themselves.
After trailing by 20 points in the first half, the Pistons found a way to climb all the way back, and they took the lead late in the third quarter and were in it down to the last seconds.
That’s when things went got hairy.
BOX SCORE: Rockets 103, Pistons 102
The Pistons trailed by one and Jerami Grant drove to the basket for a chance to win the game. Grant was fouled and after review, the officials determined that the foul came after the final buzzer, dropping the Pistons to a 103-102 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night at Little Caesars Arena.
On Grant’s drive to the rim, there appeared to be some contact before the final foul call and while there was still time on the clock, but nothing was called until the end.
“If you watch the film, I think he got fouled three times before he got to the rim,” coach Dwane Casey said. “Unfortunately, the call was after the time was gone.”
Casey has lamented Grant not getting calls on drives to the rim and that the team has sent some examples to NBA league office. Add another one to the list.
“I’m sure they saw (the contact); it was obvious,” Casey said. “Woulda, coulda, shoulda.”
It’s the fifth loss in the last six games for the Pistons.
Grant finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, Wayne Ellington and Delon Wright 18 points each and Josh Jackson 12 points for the Pistons (3-12).
The Pistons were down by six points with 5:34 remaining after a 3-pointer by the Rockets’ Sterling Brown (14 points). Grant hit two free throws, Jackson converted a 3-pointer and Mason Plumlee made one of two free throws to cut the lead to 95-93.
The Rockets (5-9) built the lead to 100-95 on two free throws by P.J. Tucker (15 points) with 2:05 remaining. Grant followed with a 3-pointer and was fouled, but he missed the free throw. Plumlee missed two more free throws — the Pistons finished 25-of-37 from the free-throw line — that could have tied the game.
Eric Gordon, who had 20 points, made a lay-in and split a pair of free throws on the next possession for a 103-99 lead in the final minutes, but Blake Griffin (seven points and 10 rebounds) hit a 3-pointer with 29.9 seconds left.
The Pistons got their stop for the try on the final possession, but came up empty.
The Rockets were without former Pistons big man Christian Wood, who sustained a sprained ankle this week, as well as John Wall.
Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard