Final - OT
Sixers send Pistons to 11th straight loss
Dec 7, 2014 - 4:29 AM Auburn Hills, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Robert Covington scored 25 points off the bench to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 108-101 overtime win on Saturday.Michael Carter-Williams had 20 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds and Luc Mbah a Moute added 14 points with 11 rebounds for the Sixers, who have won two of their last three since opening the season 0-17.
Meanwhile, Detroit has taken the dubious distinction of basketball's longest losing streak as it dropped an 11th straight game. The Pistons have not won since a Nov. 14 decision over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Josh Smith totaled 23 points with eight rebounds and Kyle Singler added 21 in the setback.
"Losing in general is not good," said Pistons center Andre Drummond. "Philly is a great team, despite their record. They're still an NBA team. The loss still hurts."
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a free throw to break the deadlock 2:23 into the extra session. Henry Sims then gave the Sixers a 102-101 lead with a jumper 40 seconds later.
It was an offensive struggle throughout the overtime period, as Nerlens Noel hit a floater in the lane to extend the lead to 104-101 with 29.9 seconds left.
Caldwell-Pope missed a pair of 3s on the Pistons' next possession, and Carter- Williams knocked down a pair of free throws to seal the win.
"For our young guys to learn how to close out a legitimate close NBA game on the road was a fantastic experience for them," Sixers head coach Brett Brown said.
Detroit brought an 82-77 lead into the fourth quarter. The Pistons opened it up a bit as Smith followed a Covington 3-pointer with two straight baskets to increase the margin to 89-80.
Philadelphia countered, though, as it ripped off seven straight with Mbah a Moute's free throws cutting the deficit to 89-87 with 8:42 left in regulation.
Caron Butler fired in a 3-pointer at the other end before Cartier Martin netted a layup to restore a seven-point cushion.
Detroit went scoreless over the next 5:07 as Carter-Williams gave the Sixers the lead with a layup. Singler followed with a three-point play and Smith's hook shot made it 99-95 with 59.7 seconds left.
Philadelphia found itself down 100-97 with 15.6 seconds left when Hollis Thompson canned a corner 3 to tie the game. Carter-Williams played solid defense on Brandon Jennings on the final possession and the game headed to overtime.
Earlier, Covington's 3 tied the game late in the first quarter, then Carter- Williams knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Sixers a 30-28 lead after 12 minutes.
The Sixers led by three with 4 1/2 minutes to play in the second when Mbah a Moute's free throw started a 9-2 run that gave the visitors a 50-40 lead.
The Pistons followed with an 11-4 run as Smith and D.J. Augustin each scored four points to close the gap to 54-51 at the break.
Game Notes
Philadelphia snapped a four-game losing streak in Detroit ... The Pistons have not won at home since Nov. 7, a span of eight games ... Detroit's Greg Monroe had 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench ... K.J. McDaniels had a game-high four blocks in the win ... Each team scored 50 points in the paint ... There were 16 lead changes and 11 ties.
Dec 6 10:17 PM- PHILADELPHIA: 100
DETROIT: 100
End of Regulation
Dec 6 9:58 PM - 205
roots - PHILADELPHIA: 77
DETROIT: 82
End of 3rd
Dec 6 9:20 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 54
DETROIT: 51
Halftime
Dec 6 8:40 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 29
DETROIT: 28
End of 1st
Dec 6 8:08 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 2
DETROIT: 0
1st Quarter - 11:43
Dec 6 7:42 PM
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