Neither team shot above 25 percent from deep in this game, as missed three-point shots were flying off the boards left and right. The Rockets lead the NBA in that category with 34 attempts per game, roughly eight more than the Pistons. However, while the Pistons found limited offense outside of the long-ball, Houston was able to put the ball in the hands of their MVP candidate James Harden. Two nights after getting torched by Anthony Davis, Harden goes for a triple-double on the Pistons. He dropped 38 points, 12 assists, and 12 rebounds to add to a thus far stellar season for the former Arizona State stand-out.
The Rockets almost took a crippling hit in the second quarter when forward Terrence Jones landed awkwardly after grabbing a rebound. He limped it off but came back full strength in the second half, where the Rockets led Detroit, 54-46. The Pistons were led by Greg Monroe's 19 points and eight rebounds, while new floor general Reggie Jackson scored 17. Some of the younger Pistons struggled offensively, as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope missed all six of his three-point tries, and Andre Drummond missed 12 shots in the paint. The Pistons rank dead last in the NBA in field goal percentage within three feet of the basket, a surprising number considering the presence of Monroe and Drummond.
The Rockets actually committed seven more turnovers than Detroit, but the Pistons were only able to capitalize during a spurt in the fourth quarter where they cut an eight-point lead down to two. That was as close as they would get, however, as the Rockets heated up in the fourth quarter.
A Cory Brewer reverse layup and Jason Terry jumper helped stretch an eleven-point lead into twenty halfway through the fourth. The Pistons rallied late and pulled to within eight points after Reggie Jackson threw a beautiful lob to Shawne Williams, but it was too late. Harden's free throws put away the Pistons, as they fall farther out of the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference. They are now four games back of the Pacers for the eighth seed. The Rockets, meanwhile, are now tied with Portland for the third best record in the West. The Pistons will try to bounce back on Sunday as they host the Hornets at 6:00 PM EST, while the Rockets will take on the Nuggets tonight at 9:00 PM EST.