Pistons vs. Grizzlies, final score: Pistons anger basketball gods, lose 93-92

The Pistons have now lost two in a row after Matt Barnes' half-court heave went in and the Memphis Grizzlies stole a victory in Detroit, 93-92. Despite Andre Drummond (18 points, 19 rebounds) getting the better of Marc Gasol (19 points, 12 rebounds) in the battle of the bigs, and the Grizzlies shooting only 27-percent from three, Memphis managed to come away with a win.

Both teams were coming off big losses, but Detroit came more slowly, trailing 24-17 after the first quarter. Solid bench play from Steve Blake (11 points, two-of-four from 3), and an unexpected appearance from Darrun Hilliard) propelled the bench to an advantage, and Detroit led 47-43 lead at the half.

The Pistons led by as many as 13 in the third quarter, but Memphis managed to keep the game close. The Grizzlies fought much harder after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope tried to put the exclamation mark on a Pistons run with an off-the-backboard alley-oop to Andre. Not KCP's best moment in a game he did not shoot well (4-11, one-of-six from three) in. The Pistons still managed to be up seven heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter was tightly contested, with the Grizzlies using the free-throw line to claw themselves back into the game. As a matter of fact, Memphis only made two shots (including Barnes' heave) in the last four minutes of the game. But the Pistons did not run their offensive effectively late, with a 24-second violation, a Reggie Jackson miss from three, and an unsuccessful midrange isolation for Marcus Morris making up their possessions in the last minute of play.

With all that said, the Pistons come away with an ugly victory if Matt Barnes decides to drive instead of pulling up from half-court. They don't have time to dwell on the loss with a back-to-back staring them in the face (at Philadelphia Friday, followed by a home game against Indiana Saturday). They have to chalk this one up to the game and try to stay above .500 in a suddenly competitive East.