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Rockets vie to bounce back vs. Pistons

Mar 6, 2015 - 3:50 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Rockets have dropped two in a row, but will try to get back on track Friday night when the Detroit Pistons stop by the Toyota Center.

Houston fell in Atlanta on Tuesday, despite having the lead most of the game until the fourth quarter. On Wednesday, the Rockets returned home and lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, 102-100.

Marc Gasol made a jumper with 0.1 seconds remaining to lift the Grizzlies.

Trailing 98-91 with 3:01 left, the Rockets scored seven straight points to tie things up. Terrence Jones and James Harden made jumpers around a Corey Brewer 3-pointer to make it 98-98 with 1:27 to go.

Memphis guard Courtney Lee stopped the bleeding with two free throws. Jones responded with a hook shot, and Gasol missed on the other end.

The Grizzlies got the ball back after Zach Randolph blocked Harden's layup, although replays clearly showed Randolph fouled the NBA's leading scorer. Gasol followed with his game-winning shot to give Memphis a 2 1/2-game lead over the Rockets in the Southwest Division.

Jones had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets, who had a five-game home winning streak snapped. Harden tallied 18 points and 13 assists in his return after a one-game suspension for kicking LeBron James on Sunday.

"We had turnovers early, we missed shots early. We missed the easy plays," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said.

Josh Smith will face his former team for the first time in Houston. He was released by the Pistons just before Christmas.

Houston hits the road for four straight out west, starting Saturday in Denver.

The Pistons have lost four in a row and are falling dangerously in the race for the eighth Eastern Conference playoff berth. Detroit is 3 1/2 games behind the Charlotte Hornets, who currently reside in the eighth spot.

On Wednesday, the Pistons couldn't contain Anthony Davis in his return to the lineup. Detroit fell in the Big Easy, 88-85, to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Davis finished with 39 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks. He also made two jumpers with under 90 seconds left to push the Pelicans into the win column.

Andre Drummond stuffed the stat sheet as well for Detroit, finishing with 13 points, 18 rebounds and six blocks. Greg Monroe gave 13 points, 15 boards and five assists and Reggie Jackson had his first double-double since joining his new club, going for 14 with 11 helpers in the setback.

"Offensively right now, it's just a real struggle," Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy said.

Friday will be the end of a three-game road trip as the Pistons return to Detroit on Sunday to face Charlotte. After that, they head west for four games.

The Pistons prevailed in Motown on Jan. 31 to halt a seven-game series losing streak. Houston has won eight in a row as the host versus Detroit.