Portland — Call it the one that got away.
The Pistons looked like they would be able to steal a critical game in Portland and start their western road trip with a second win. They had a six-point lead with 4:28 left.
Then it all slipped away.
The Pistons scored just three points the rest of the way and the Blazers steamed ahead to take a 117-112 victory on Saturday night at Moda Center.
The loss drops the Pistons (37-35) into a virtual tie for sixth place with the Brooklyn Nets in the East playoff race.