Pistons vs. Wizards final score: Detroit can't close out comeback in DC, loses 99-95

The Detroit Pistons came all the way back from 21 down in the second half behind strong play from rookie Spencer Dinwiddie and Greg Monroe. They even led briefly in the fourth. Unfortunately, the Washington Wizards managed to close it out to end their six-game losing streak, 99-95.

The Pistons trailed by 16 at the half and then 21 three minutes into the third, but turned up the defensive pressure and The Mayor effect on Capitol Hill. In the final 21 minutes of the game, the Wiz scored only 30 points (they had 37 points in the first 12 minutes of the game!). The Pistons scored 47.

28 of the Pistons' 47 points in the second half (21 of 25 in the fourth quarter) came from Dinwiddie and Monroe on a combined 11-16 shooting. It's fitting that the Pistons took their first lead of the game in the fourth on a Dinwiddie put-back dunk ... off his own missed jumper.

The Pistons held a one-point lead, their only leads in the game, a few times in the final six minutes of the game, but couldn't seem to stop Nene, Marcin Gortat or John Wall -- Nene and Gortat especially. Nene apparently invented the pump fake. Gortat Polish Hammered the Pistons' bigs on the boards, grabbing 17 of them and none bigger than the offensive board off a missed free throw with 10 seconds left in the game, going over a jumping (not boxing out) Andre Drummond.

Dinwiddie finished with a career high 20 points on 14 shots and eight assists opposite three turnovers. He did all that in 25 minutes and far outperformed Reggie Jackson, who finished 4-for-12 shooting with eight assists opposite two turnovers in 23 minutes.

Monroe had 21 points and 10 rebounds, but he also had six turnovers.

Box Score

The Pistons are a game and a half out of the crowded playoff picture. They do not play again until Wednesday when they take on the New Orleans Pelicans.

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