The Detroit Pistons have shown some life and growth recently, despite missing several starters. But the ability to play scrappy does not equal the ability to close, and those flaws were on full display in a 102-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit held the lead for most of the game but missed free throws and the implosion of the team’s offense in the fourth quarter allowed the Cavs to come back and eventually take the lead for good in the final minutes.
The Pistons took an 88-86 lead with 7:19 left in the fourth on a clean Killian Hayes catch-and-shoot 3-pointer.