Sixers Beat Pistons 108-101 In OT For 2nd 'W' This Week
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Hollis Thompson's 3-pointer in the final seconds sent the game to overtime, and the Philadelphia 76ers outlasted the Detroit Pistons 108-101 on Saturday night in a matchup of the teams with the NBA's two worst records.
Detroit (3-17) dropped its 11th straight and now leads the 76ers (2-18) by only a game in the standings.Philadelphia has won two of three since starting the season 0-17.
Thompson tied it at 100 when he sank a fadeaway from the right corner with 13.4 seconds left in regulation. The Pistons managed only one point in overtime.
The teams entered with a combined record of 4-34, the second-worst in NBA history for teams about to play each other — with a minimum of 38 combined games. The 76ers and Buffalo Braves were 4-35 entering their meeting Nov. 24, 1972, according to STATS.
Robert Covington scored 25 points for Philadelphia and Michael Carter-Williams added 20. Josh Smith led Detroit with 23 points, and he also had eight rebounds and seven assists.
It took almost half the overtime for either team to score. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finally made a free throw for Detroit with 2:37 left, but the 76ers scored the game's final eight points.
It was 104-101 after Nerlens Noel's floater with 29.9 seconds remaining. Caldwell-Pope missed two 3-pointers at the other end before the 76ers were able to secure the ball and close out the game from the free throw line.
The teams were facing each other for the first time since March 29, when the 76ers snapped their record-tying, 26-game losing streak with a 123-98 rout of the Pistons in Philadelphia.
Detroit led 100-97 in this one, but Thompson — seemingly rushing a shot straight off an inbounds — connected to tie it in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. Brandon Jennings tried to win it for Detroit at the other end, but his step-back jumper didn't reach the rim.
The Pistons and 76ers are in this position in large part because of their atrocious shooting. Detroit finished at 39 percent from the field Saturday, while Philadelphia shot a more respectable 46 percent.
The Pistons host Philadelphia again Jan. 17.
TIP-INS
76ers: Since Jan. 31, Philadelphia is 2-1 against the Pistons and 4-49 against everybody else.
Pistons: Jennings and Caldwell-Pope each went 2 of 10 from the field. Jennings had six assists and five turnovers.
UP NEXT
76ers: Visit Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Pistons: Host Oklahoma City on Sunday night.
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