Rockets lose to Pistons 114-109

Posted: April 7, 2017 -- 10:40 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- In a game that meant more to the Detroit Pistons than themselves, the Houston Rockets lost 114-109 Friday night in front of an announced crowd of 18,055 fans.

The Rockets went through the motions for much of the game -- especially on defense -- and, the laissez faire attitude resulted in being outscored 39-22 in the fourth quarter which allowed the Pistons to eke out the five point win and keep their miniscule playoff hopes alive for another day.

"In the fourth quarter, we kind of just quit playing," said Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni after the game. "And, give them (credit), they (the Pistons) played well. We just didn't finish the job. It was a little disappointing.

"(You) can't mess with the game or the game will mess with you."

Pat Beverley: "That's BS. What happened tonight was BS....We have to play better if we're talking about winning championships." #Rockets pic.twitter.com/7oTqDO4lTA

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 8, 2017

The Rockets made 7 three-pointers in the first quarter (out of 14 attempts) but only led the Pistons by six points (30-24) after the first quarter.

The Rockets' three point shooting cooled in the second quarter: 2 for 12; and, the Pistons led by 7-foot-3 Boban Marjanovic outscored the Rockets 28-24 in the second period to cut the Rockets' lead to 54-52 at halftime. (Marjanovic scored 9 of his 17 first-half points in the second quarter.)

Clinging to a 63-61 lead in the third quarter, James Harden nailed consecutive three-point shots during a 22-14 burst to put the Rockets up 85-75 after three quarters. Harden scored 11 of the 22 points.

With Harden on the bench to start the fourth quarter, the Pistons scored the first six points of the quarter on two 3-point baskets by Reggie Bullock. However, Eric Gordon, Lou Williams, and Chinanu Onuaku each scored two points to boost the lead back to 12 (93-81) with 9:43 remaining in the game.

The Rockets failed to put the Pistons away as the Pistons answered with 6 straight points which sliced the Rockets lead to 6 (93-87) with 7:49 remaining.

"We've got to do a better job of closing games out," Harden said after the game." It's that simple. We let big fellow (Marjanovic) get going; get some confidence; and, that's how they rode that game out from the middle of the game."

Harden, Montrezl Harrell, and Trevor Ariza returned to the game; however, the Rockets missed four straight shots while Marjanovic scored a lay-up and a dunk to trim Houston's lead to 94-93 with just under six minutes on the clock.

Harden dished to Eric Gordon and Gordon splashed a three-point shot for a 97-93 lead. Marjanovic scored three more points; then, Harden made two of three free throws for a 99-96 Rockets' lead.

Stanley Johnson sank a three-point shot to the game at 99. The game was tied two more times (at 105 and at 107); Johnson made another three-point shot with 32.4 seconds remaining to put the Pistons ahead 110-107.

After a 20-second timeout, Harden missed a three-point attempt; and Johnson made two foul shots for a 112-107 Pistons' lead with just 15.7 seconds remaining.

Harrell scored a driving lay-up; but, Detroit's Tobias Harris answered with two more free throws for the final points of the game.

Marjanovic finished the game with a career-high 27 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes of play off the bench for the Pistons.

Harden finished the game with 33 points and 12 assists -- both game highs.

Houston lost despite hitting 16 three-point shots.

The Pistons had a Rockets' opponent season-low 6 turnovers tonight. Opponents have recorded 12 or fewer turnovers in four of the past five games against the Rockets. The Rockets are 15-10 when opponents have 12 or fewer turnovers in a game this season.

Beverley had a career-high 13 rebounds tonight. He also added 5 assists. The Rockets fall to 24-3 when has 5 or more assists in a game this season.

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