In a season full of turmoil and frustration, this would have been a particularly exasperating loss for the Lakers.
One of the most accurate free throw shooters in NBA history had missed two, giving the Pistons one more chance at a game-winning shot. Kyle Singler lobbed the ball toward the basket, and rookie Andre Drummond stretched his 6-foot-11 frame and tried a one-handed dunk with Pau Gasol defending.
No good. The Lakers held on for a 98-97 victory yesterday in Auburn Hills, Mich.
“Every game is like a playoff game for us right now,” Los Angeles coach Mike D’Antoni said. “And some crazy things happen in playoff games.”
Gasol had 23 points and 10 rebounds and was the last line of defense on Detroit’s final alley-oop attempt. The Lakers blew an 18-point third-quarter lead but overcame their late free throw struggles to win for the fifth time in six games.
The Lakers have won two in a row without Dwight Howard. The All-Star center sat out again with a right shoulder problem.
Kobe Bryant (18 points) had a driving three-point play with 1:09 remaining that gave the Lakers a 98-95 lead. They held on despite missing four free throws in the final 16.8 seconds.
Steve Nash — a 90.4 percent foul shooter for his career — missed two free throws with 2.7 seconds left. Down by one, the Pistons inbounded from midcourt with 1.2 seconds to play. They tried a lob to Drummond, but with Gasol contesting the play, Drummond couldn’t convert.
Drummond looked surprised no foul was called on the play.
“I have no comment,” Drummond said afterward when asked if there was contact.
Celtics 106, Clippers 104
In Boston, Paul Pierce scored 22 points and the Celtics held off a late comeback to beat the Clippers and improve to 4-0 since losing point guard Rajon Rondo for the season.
The Clippers had pulled within 103-101 on a 3-pointer by Eric Bledsoe (23 points) with 56 seconds remaining. But Avery Bradley drew an offensive foul on the Clippers’ Jamal Crawford (23 points) with 26 seconds to go, and Pierce held on to the ball before making a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left to clinch the win.
The teams played without the point guards voted starters in the All-Star Game in Houston on Feb. 17 — the Clippers’ Chris Paul and Rondo.
Heat 100, Raptors 85
In Toronto, LeBron James scored 30 points, Chris Bosh had 28 against his former team and the Heat beat the Raptors for the 10th straight time.
Dwyane Wade added 23 points as the Heat bounced back after Friday’s 102-89 loss at Indiana, ensuring their team Super Bowl viewing party would be a happy one.
Rudy Gay led the Raptors with 29 points and DeMar DeRozan had 27. Kyle Lowry scored 10 points and Aaron Gray had 12 rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost four of five.