Even by the low standards of the NBA-worst Detroit Pistons this season, tonight’s 142-131 overtime loss is inexplicable. Detroit was up 126-112 with just 3:34 remaining after an and-one from Isaiah Stewart.
The team had double-digit contributions from all eight players who saw more than 10 minutes of action. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue even pulled his starters as he was thinking ahead to another Los Angeles road game against the Raptors tomorrow. Then everything fell apart.
Sloppy turnovers, no-pass possessions, and terrible looks at the rim all combined for an epic Detroit collapse. To close out regulation, the Pistons scored two points from the free-throw line while missing two other shots at the charity stripe that would have iced the game.