Pistons vs. Hornets final score: Detroit drops the D in CLT, 118-103

The Pistons went into Charlotte for what felt like a big game and laid a big fat egg on the defensive end of the court, losing 118-103.

The game got away from the Pistons rather quickly from the tip with the Hornets putting up 38 points in the first quarter. The Pistons never led in the game. After a strong third quarter it felt like they were thinking about flipping that fourth quarter switch, but only for a brief moment mid-way through the final frame did it feel like it was coming for real before the Hornets put the Pistons away with a 11-1 run.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Pistons with 24 points. Reggie Jackson had a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists. Again, the offense was there.

You know who wasn't?

Andre Drummond's double-double streak of ... okay, only three* ended with a five-point (ONE shot in the game, which came in the fourth quarter) and nine-rebound performance. Bravo. He played 23 minutes due to foul trouble early and often. *(He had double-doubles 16 of the previous 17 games, and that's why it felt like he had a longer streak going.)

The Hornets had seven players in double figures and were generally pretty awesome.

This game reminded me a lot of last year's March game against Charlotte, albeit far less do or die die die die die ok dead. While the loss was ugly, it doesn't doom the Pistons' playoff chances. They fall out (Update: Just kidding! Bulls lost like a bunch of losers, so the Pistons are still in it if the season ended tonight), but there are still 17 games remaining, including a very important cupcake that must be devoured in Philadelphia on Saturday night.

Box Score