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Rockets start 3rd quarter by intentionally fouling Andre Drummond into the bonus

Get off that fence, Silver.

Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Trailing 56-47 at the half, the Houston Rockets came out in the third quarter starting K.J. McDaniels solely to foul Andre Drummond. He picked up two quick fouls in the first two seconds of the quarter and fouled Drummond three more times in the next seven seconds until the Pistons were in the bonus and Drummond had to shoot free throws. FIVE fouls in NINE seconds. Of course, McDaniels then had to go to the bench due to foul trouble.

The Rockets would foul Drummond intentionally 12 straight times in all. Drummond made 3-of-4 freebies at one point and the Pistons actually extended their lead to 11, but then the Hack-a-Dre strategy started to effectively lull the Pistons to sleep on defense, allowing the Rockets to go on an 11-0 run and tie the game. Drummond could have cut into that run a little if he made some free throws, but he missed six straight during that span. Drummond was left in the game to split his next pair (5-16 in the third overall) before being removed from the game in favor of Aron Baynes.

Drummond, All-Star, did not play the rest of the third quarter.

How's that balancing act on that fence, Silver?