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It should have been an easy win as the Pistons held a 16-point lead in the 3rd quarter, which was 14 points by the start of the 4th. However, this is the 2016-17 Pistons who make everything that should be easy a lot more difficult than it needs to be.
The Pistons had a 30-26 lead after the 1st quarter, but it could have been more if they didn’t play so sloppy. Ditto for the 2nd quarter. It was a high scoring first half and the Pistons had a 61-57 lead.
The Pistons were forced to use all three of their centers in the first half due to foul trouble for Andre Drummond and Aron Baynes. There were some questionable calls for sure, but the Pistons carlessness with the ball played just as much of a role in only being up 4 at the half because the Pistons outplayed the Wizards more than the score showed.
The Pistons came out for the 3rd quarter ready to play. They were moving the ball and hitting their shots just like in the Atlanta game. They also were not turning the ball over as much, so they were able to build a 16 point lead.
All the Pistons had to was keep playing how they did in the 3rd and they would cruise to the win, right? The Pistons had other plans, as some selfish play spearheaded by Reggie Jackson allowed Washington back into the game in the 4th quarter.
Washington would take the lead on a couple Bradley Beal free throws with 1:13 left. A missed John Wall jumper with 27 seconds left gave the Pistons a chance to win it.
Reggie Jackson missed a jumper with 11 seconds left to win it, than Tobias Harris had a potential game-winner blocked. He corralled the miss a shot a floater from the baseline that would also miss. Marcus Morris skied for the tip-in, buzzer, ballgame.
The refs were definitely whistle-happy in the 4th quarter, but the Pistons need to overcome that. They should have never let Washington back in this game.
Marcus Morris led all scorers with 25 on 7 for 17 shooting. Stanley Johnson was 4-4 off the bench for 9 points.
The Pistons (21-24) are now on a 3 game winning streak since their blowout losses in Golden State and Utah. They will face the Kings on Monday. The Pistons blew an 18 point lead last time they played the Kings.