The Detroit Pistons lack experience, particularly after losing Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk to injuries.
They also lack depth, thanks to tens of millions of dead money on the books, most notably Blake Griffin’s bought-out contract.
Those are just a few of the reasons why the Pistons are mired in one of the longest losing streaks in team history.
The latest defeat coming at the hands of the Rockets, 116-107, on Saturday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena.
The Pistons have now tied a franchise record with 14-straight games, and return to action on Sunday with a home game against a Miami Heat team toward the front of the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Saddiq Bey had his second-straight strong offensive game with 23 points, knocking down nine of his 16 shots. Cade Cunningham had a double-double with 21 points, 11 assists and six rebounds, and Isaiah Stewart tallied 16 points and eight rebounds. Killian Hayes finished with eight points and 10 assists.
Former Piston Christian Wood paced the Rockets with 21 points and eight rebounds. Eric Gordon added 18 points. Jalen Green, the third pick of the 2021 draft, missed the game with a hamstring strain.
Houston took control of the game in the first quarter, taking a 11-point lead with under four minutes to play in the quarter after a tip-in by Wood. Detroit trailed by 20 in the fourth, but cut the deficit to 100-90 with 5:15 to play following a hook shot by Luka Garza. The Rockets answered with a 12-4 run to pull away for good.
Detroit committed 19 turnovers, leading to 22 points for the Rockets, and shot 29% (9-for-31) from 3.
SHAWN WINDSOR: Is Cade Cunningham ‘that guy’ for Pistons? Why do we have to decide now?
The Pistons and Houston Rockets have trended in opposite directions since their Nov. 10 contest in Texas, in which Detroit prevailed, 112-104 road win. The Pistons (4-24) have won just two games since that contest. Houston, then in the middle of a 15-game losing streak, have gone 9-10 since then.
Garza key in fourth quarter run
The Pistons recalled Garza, the 52nd pick of the 2021 draft, from the G League Saturday morning. They ended up needing him late in the game, as Wood and Alperen Sengun gave the Rockets a size advantage. Stewart picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter, and Trey Lyles didn’t give the Pistons what they needed at center.
Garza started the fourth quarter, and scored all nine of his points during a 15-5 Pistons run that cut the deficit from 20 to 10. During the run, Garza tipped in two missed baskets, knocked down a catch-and-shoot 3 and finished a hook shot.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. The Free Press has started a new digital subscription model. Here’s how you can gain access to our most exclusive Pistons content. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.