[1.22.06] Rockets-Pistons Game Recap

Pistons’ Experience Overwhelms Rockets in 99-97 Defeat

By Dennis L. Silva, II.
1.22.06


It wasn’t supposed to be this difficult for the Detroit Pistons. The Houston Rockets walked into the Palace of Auburn Hills a 13-25 ballclub depleted by injuries, unable to have the services of two of their top three leading scorers. Instead, Detroit found themselves in a grudge match late in the fourth quarter, as a mere basket proved to be the lone difference in a 99-97 Detroit victory before a crowd of 22,076.

The Pistons jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead in the first quarter as it seemed that Detroit would be too tough of a conquer for the Rockets. The Pistons started out firing from 3-point range, hitting four of their first five from downtown. But Tracy McGrady scored 11 points in the period to keep Houston in the game. Detroit managed a mere three point lead heading into the second quarter.

After ending the first quarter shooting 50% from the field, the Rockets’ shooting cooled considerably. Houston started the second period 1-7 from the floor as the team had no one who could penetrate and attack the basket as McGrady was on the bench. As a result, the Pistons upped their advantage to ten points, 46-36, late in the period. Unfortunately for Detroit, McGrady re-entered the game and continued where he had left off. McGrady (21 points, 8-15 shooting) closed the first half with six points as Houston’s deficit was 55-46 heading inti halftime.

The Rockets’ offense awakened once again in the third quarter. Houston scored seven consecutive points to close Detroit’s edge to two points. McGrady was the only source of life for the Rockets, scoring 16 points in the period. The Pistons, while feeble with their shooting display, managed to stay in the lead with an abundance of trips to the free-throw line. Detroit went 12-14 from the charity stripe in the quarter, but they held the slimmest of leads heading into the final period.

The Rockets took the lead, 86-85, with 8:00 remaining in the fourth quarter as Rafer Alston (13 points, 4 assists) nailed a trey from the left wing. McGrady went out soon thereafter, and Detroit took advantage. Rasheed Wallace nailed a couple of baseline jump shots, and Richard Hamilton (24 points, 8-14 shooting) ran through his usual maze of screens to nail a couple of jump shots. Late in the period is where most of the Rockets’ blunders came: Alston allowed Chauncey Billups (24 points, 9 assists) to go around him for a layup. He then stepped out of bounds while being trapped in the left corner. McGrady (43 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) also had the ball stripped from him by Ben Wallace. All of these are possessions that, in one way or another, are ones that the Rockets would love to have back.

Either way, Houston still trailed by only two with 10.3 seconds remaining after Luther Head had nailed a trey from deep in the left corner. After Hamilton hit only one of two free throws, Alston came down and found Luther Head wide open from the left wing for a three-point attempt that was short. Juwan Howard (16 points, 12 rebounds) missed the offensive rebound tip-in, and Detroit had escaped victorious.

The Rockets have nothing to be ashamed of. They put forth a brilliant effort against a team that many consider to have the best starting five in all of basketball. Houston will travel tonight as they play Milwaukee tomorrow before returning home to face the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.


ROCKETS RECAP

· Detroit shot 32-40 from the free-throw line. Houston finished 20-24.
· The Pistons’ bench outscored the Rockets’ bench 18-7.
· Houston committed only seven turnovers in the game.
· Following his double-double from Friday’s game, Chuck Hayes accumulated 4 points and 6 rebounds Sunday, but did an excellent job defensively against Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace.
· 12 of Detroit’s 23 points in the 3rd quarter were from the free-throw line


http://www.nba.com/games/20060122/HOUDET/boxscore.html