Pistons beat Grizzlies 100-93 and cling to playoff hopes
DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Pistons are still clinging to the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs thanks to their biggest second-half comeback in three decades.
Andre Drummond had 20 points and 17 rebounds and Ish Smith matched a season high with 22 points, helping Detroit rally to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 100-93 Tuesday night.
The Pistons can clinch a postseason bid by closing the regular season with a win at New York, or if Charlotte loses at home to Orlando, on Wednesday night.
''I'm just happy that we still control our own destiny,'' Detroit's Reggie Jackson said.
The Pistons put their postseason position in peril by losing four straight before rallying to beat the short-handed Grizzlies, who led by as many as 22 points.
Detroit's comeback from a 19-point halftime deficit was its largest since rallying from being down 23 points to beat Seattle on March 31, 1989.
Pistons star Blake Griffin was limited to five points and two rebounds in 18-plus minutes, barely playing in the second half because of his injured left knee.
''I wasn't able to help us,'' Griffin said. ''We're going to take it day by day.''
Detroit's Luke Kennard scored 12 of his 15 points off the bench in the second half.
Jackson had all 12 points of his points in the first half and went to the bench as Smith flourished in the final quarter.
''He was unstoppable,'' Jackson said.
Detroit opened the fourth with a 16-3 run to pull within three points. Smith made a game-tying 3-pointer and a go-ahead jumper midway through the quarter.
Drummond made two free throws with 2:33 left to put the Pistons up 91-89. Smith made a jumper to give Detroit a five-point lead with 50 seconds left and a runner to put it ahead 97-93 with 28 seconds remaining.
Delon Wright and Bruno Caboclo each scored 15 points and Tyler Dorsey added 12 points for the Grizzlies, who used just four reserves. Banged-up players such as Mike Conley, Joakim Noah and rookie Jaren Jackson were out with injuries.
''I thought our guys scrapped and competed,'' coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. ''We showed a lot of heart, but you saw in the fourth quarter a Pistons team that was desperate and turned it up offensively and defensively.''
Even though Detroit had a lot to play for - its first playoff berth in three years and second in a decade - the Grizzlies played with more effort and led 32-20 after the first quarter and 57-38 at halftime.
''I think everything was free and easy in the first half,'' Memphis center Tyler Zeller said.
Detroit's fans made it loud and clear they were unhappy with the performance.
''I deserved to be booed and so did our guys,'' coach Dwane Casey said. ''I just hope none of our fans hurt their ankles jumping back on the bandwagon. I even saw some of our fans leaving the building, but I hope they saw the fire and competitive spirit we showed in the second half.''
CONFIDENT COACH
Bickerstaff said he hasn't heard any of the talk about his future with the franchise and believes he has done enough to earn another opportunity to coach the team next season
''Yeah, there's no doubt about it,'' he said.
Bickerstaff replaced fired coach David Fizdale early in the 2017-18 season. He was 15-48 last season and is 32-39 this season.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Zeller fouled out midway through the fourth quarter with 13 points and six rebounds
Pistons: Team owner Tom Gores attended the game, cheering for his team and complaining about calls to officials.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: Close regular season against Golden State on Wednesday.
Pistons: End regular season at New York on Wednesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:44 | +2 | Bruce Brown made floating jump shot | 0-2 | |
11:30 | Bruno Caboclo missed jump shot | |||
11:18 | Reggie Jackson missed fade-away jump shot | |||
11:17 | Defensive rebound by Justin Holiday | |||
11:06 | +2 | Bruno Caboclo made driving dunk, assist by Tyler Zeller | 2-2 | |
10:41 | Andre Drummond missed driving layup, blocked by Justin Holiday | |||
10:39 | Defensive rebound by Justin Holiday | |||
10:32 | Defensive rebound by Bruce Brown | |||
10:08 | Wayne Ellington missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:06 | Offensive rebound by Andre Drummond | |||
10:03 | Andre Drummond missed dunk | |||
10:02 | Defensive rebound by Tyler Zeller | |||
9:53 | Offensive rebound by Tyler Zeller | |||
9:51 | +2 | Tyler Zeller made layup | 4-2 | |
9:32 | Bruce Brown missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:32 | Bruce Brown missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:17 | Shooting foul on Blake Griffin | |||
9:17 | +1 | Tyler Zeller made 1st of 2 free throws | 5-2 | |
9:17 | +1 | Tyler Zeller made 2nd of 2 free throws | 6-2 | |
9:00 | +3 | Reggie Jackson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Blake Griffin | 6-5 | |
8:46 | +2 | Delon Wright made reverse layup | 8-5 | |
8:37 | Andre Drummond missed hook shot | |||
8:37 | Andre Drummond missed hook shot | |||
8:25 | +2 | Bruno Caboclo made finger-roll layup | 10-5 | |
8:15 | Personal foul on Bruno Caboclo | |||
8:15 | Personal foul on Bruno Caboclo | |||
8:03 | +3 | Reggie Jackson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Bruce Brown | 10-8 | |
7:50 | Lost ball turnover on Delon Wright, stolen by Blake Griffin | |||
7:40 | Reggie Jackson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:40 | Reggie Jackson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:30 | +2 | Delon Wright made reverse layup, assist by Bruno Caboclo | 12-8 | |
7:30 | Violation | |||
7:30 | Violation | |||
7:13 | Turnover on Andre Drummond | |||
7:04 | Bad pass turnover on Delon Wright, stolen by Andre Drummond | |||
6:58 | Wayne Ellington missed layup | |||
6:55 | Defensive rebound by Tyler Dorsey | |||
6:51 | +3 | Justin Holiday made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tyler Dorsey | 15-8 | |
6:27 | +2 | Reggie Jackson made jump shot | 15-10 | |
6:13 | Traveling violation turnover on Bruno Caboclo | |||
5:54 | Full timeout called | |||
5:43 | Bruno Caboclo missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:40 | Offensive rebound by Tyler Dorsey | |||
5:22 | +2 | Tyler Dorsey made jump shot, assist by Delon Wright | 17-10 | |
5:10 | Shooting foul on Tyler Zeller | |||
5:10 | Andre Drummond missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
5:10 | DET team rebound | |||
5:10 | +1 | Andre Drummond made 2nd of 2 free throws | 17-11 | |
4:54 | +2 | Tyler Zeller made layup, assist by Chandler Parsons | 19-11 | |
4:54 | +2 | Tyler Zeller made layup, assist by Chandler Parsons | 19-11 | |
4:12 | +2 | Tyler Zeller made layup, assist by Tyler Dorsey | 21-13 | |
3:57 | +2 | Andre Drummond made alley-oop shot, assist by Reggie Jackson | 21-15 | |
3:57 | Shooting foul on Tyler Zeller | |||
3:57 | +1 | Andre Drummond made free throw | 21-16 | |
3:42 | Chandler Parsons missed driving layup | |||
3:38 | Offensive rebound by Ivan Rabb | |||
3:38 | +2 | Ivan Rabb made dunk | 23-16 | |
3:23 | Luke Kennard missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:18 | Offensive rebound by Andre Drummond | |||
3:02 | Defensive rebound by Ivan Rabb | |||
2:57 | +2 | Tyler Dorsey made driving layup | 25-16 | |
2:41 | +2 | Ish Smith made driving layup | 25-18 | |
2:14 | 24-second shot clock violation turnover | |||
1:53 | Langston Galloway missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:49 | Defensive rebound by Tyler Dorsey | |||
1:45 | +3 | Jevon Carter made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Chandler Parsons | 28-18 | |
1:18 | Ish Smith missed reverse layup | |||
1:18 | MEM team rebound | |||
0:47 | Defensive rebound by Ivan Rabb | |||
0:39 | +2 | Chandler Parsons made jump shot | 32-18 | |
0:20 | Shooting foul on Julian Washburn | |||
0:20 | +1 | Ish Smith made 1st of 2 free throws | 32-19 | |
0:20 | +1 | Ish Smith made 2nd of 2 free throws | 32-20 | |
0:06 | Personal foul on Luke Kennard | |||
0:03 | Out of bounds turnover on Chandler Parsons | |||
0:00 | DET team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | Personal foul on Thon Maker | |||
11:41 | Personal foul on Ish Smith | |||
11:31 | +3 | Julian Washburn made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Chandler Parsons | 35-20 | |
11:16 | Personal foul on Jevon Carter | |||
11:01 | Ish Smith missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:58 | Defensive rebound by Chandler Parsons | |||
10:49 | Out of bounds turnover on Chandler Parsons | |||
10:38 | +2 | Blake Griffin made driving layup, assist by Ish Smith | 35-22 | |
10:14 | MEM team rebound | |||
10:14 | Personal foul on Langston Galloway | |||
10:02 | +3 | Jevon Carter made 3-pt. jump shot | 38-22 | |
9:37 | Blake Griffin missed jump shot | |||
9:35 | MEM team rebound | |||
9:14 | Personal foul on Ish Smith | |||
9:07 | Chandler Parsons missed jump shot | |||
9:05 | Defensive rebound by Blake Griffin | |||
8:59 | Turnover | |||
8:42 | Defensive rebound by Ish Smith | |||
8:27 | Luke Kennard missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
8:19 | +3 | Chandler Parsons made 3-pt. jump shot | 41-22 | |
8:02 | Langston Galloway missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:34 | +2 | Ivan Rabb made dunk | 43-22 | |
7:23 | Personal foul on Chandler Parsons | |||
7:04 | Bad pass turnover on Chandler Parsons, stolen by Zaza Pachulia | |||
6:57 | Blake Griffin missed layup, blocked by Bruno Caboclo | |||
6:57 | DET team rebound | |||
6:54 | +2 | Langston Galloway made layup, assist by Reggie Jackson | 43-24 | |
6:38 | Defensive rebound by Reggie Jackson | |||
6:30 | Reggie Jackson missed layup | |||
6:27 | Defensive rebound by Delon Wright | |||
6:26 | Personal foul on Reggie Jackson | |||
6:26 | Delon Wright missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
6:26 | MEM team rebound | |||
6:26 | +1 | Delon Wright made 2nd of 2 free throws | 44-24 | |
6:16 | Personal foul on Bruno Caboclo | |||
6:03 | Defensive rebound by Delon Wright | |||
5:52 | +2 | Wayne Ellington made driving layup, assist by Reggie Jackson | 44-26 | |
5:32 | Tyler Zeller missed floating jump shot | |||
5:31 | Offensive rebound by Jevon Carter | |||
5:15 | Reggie Jackson missed layup | |||
5:09 | Lost ball turnover on Tyler Zeller, stolen by Reggie Jackson | |||
4:59 | +2 | Reggie Jackson made jump shot | 47-28 | |
4:51 | Turnover on Tyler Zeller | |||
4:34 | Offensive rebound by Andre Drummond | |||
4:35 | Andre Drummond missed layup, blocked by Bruno Caboclo | |||
4:27 | Defensive rebound by Ivan Rabb | |||
3:49 | Tyler Dorsey missed jump shot, blocked by Andre Drummond | |||
3:42 | +3 | Luke Kennard made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Reggie Jackson | 50-34 | |
3:26 | +3 | Justin Holiday made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ivan Rabb | 53-34 | |
3:01 | Offensive rebound by Andre Drummond | |||
3:01 | +2 | Andre Drummond made dunk | 53-36 | |
2:45 | Backcourt turnover on Ivan Rabb | |||
2:33 | Wayne Ellington missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:29 | Defensive rebound by Delon Wright | |||
2:14 | Out of bounds turnover on Justin Holiday | |||
1:58 | Reggie Jackson missed driving layup | |||
1:57 | Shooting foul on Ivan Rabb | |||
1:57 | Offensive rebound by Andre Drummond | |||
1:57 | Andre Drummond missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
1:43 | Chandler Parsons missed floating jump shot, blocked by Andre Drummond | |||
1:41 | Defensive rebound by Glenn Robinson III | |||
1:32 | Personal foul on Andre Drummond | |||
1:32 | +1 | Delon Wright made 1st of 2 free throws | 54-36 | |
1:32 | +1 | Delon Wright made 2nd of 2 free throws | 55-36 | |
1:11 | Bad pass turnover on Luke Kennard, stolen by Delon Wright | |||
1:06 | Shooting foul on Wayne Ellington | |||
1:06 | +1 | Delon Wright made 1st of 2 free throws | 56-36 | |
0:49 | +2 | Reggie Jackson made floating jump shot | 57-38 | |
0:32 | Delon Wright missed finger-roll layup | |||
0:30 | Defensive rebound by Andre Drummond | |||
0:24 | Defensive rebound by Delon Wright | |||
0:00 | DET team rebound |