Pistons 127, Suns 122 (OT)
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Reggie Jackson scored 18 of his game-high 34 points after the third quarter to help the Detroit Pistons rally from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to earn a 127-122 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Wednesday.
The Pistons (10-9) trailed 102-86 with 8:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, but rallied with a 21-2 run to take a 107-104 lead with 1:47 left in the fourth after a layup by Jackson, a guard.
Phoenix (8-11) answered and took a 112-110 lead with 30.7 seconds left in the fourth on a 3-pointer by guard Brandon Knight, but the Pistons tied the game with 14.3 seconds to go on two free throws by center Andre Drummond, who was fouled at midcourt unintentionally by forward P.J. Tucker of the Suns.
Phoenix had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but a contested leaner in the lane by forward T.J. Warren rimmed off as time expired.
In the overtime, Jackson and former Phoenix forward Marcus Morris combined to score eight points to give the Pistons a 120-113 lead with 2:35 left.
Phoenix didn't go away quietly though, using a pair of 3-pointers by Knight and a basket by Warren to pull within 122-120 with 1:27 remaining in overtime.
After getting a stop, the Suns had a chance to tie or take the lead, but were called for an illegal screen with 31.4 seconds remaining.
Following a Detroit turnover, the Suns had another chance to tie, but Warren was unable to hit a runner near the basket and the ball was rebounded by Morris, who split a pair of three throws with 9.1 seconds left to give the Pistons a 125-122 lead.
With one last chance to tie, the Suns put it in the hands of Knight, who was unable to hit a 3-pointer that was rebounded by Morris with 2.5 seconds remaining.
Morris then sealed the game by hitting two free throws to provide the game's final points.
Morris scored 24 points, forward Ersan Ilyasova added 23 points and Drummond had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Detroit.
Knight led six Phoenix players in double figures with 22 points. Guard Eric Bledsoe had 21 points and forward Jon Leuer added 20 for the Suns.
NOTES: Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy and Suns coach Jeff Hornacek talked before the game about how the pick and roll is more unstoppable than ever. "The guards are just so good and then you have a combination of guys like Andre (Drummond), DeAndre Jordan and Tyson Chandler that are great roll guys who can catch lobs," Van Gundy said. "If you let them behind the defense, it's trouble. Then you've got the great pick and pop guys that make you get back to them, and then everybody surrounds those guys with shooters. Offenses right now in the NBA are basically created around the pick and roll. It's always been big, but it's gotten bigger and bigger." ... Suns C Tyson Chandler missed his third straight game with a strained hamstring suffered last Friday against Golden State. "When he can go a little bit and doesn't feel the pull, then he is probably good to go," Hornacek said. "I think he still feels it a little bit." ... Suns F Markieff Morris missed the game because of a left knee bruise. F Jon Leuer started in his place.