DETROIT — Significant deficits typically don’t overwhelm the Detroit Pistons. But the Houston Rockets were a different beast for the Eastern Conference leaders.
After going down 14 points heading into the fourth quarter, the Pistons made a run at a comeback, but a talented Houston team led by Kevin Durant’s 30-point performance never allowed Detroit back into the matchup.
The Pistons (32-11) saw their latest winning streak come to an end Friday night, suffering a 111-104 loss on their home court to the Rockets (27-16), marking the first time they allowed over 105 points since Jan. 4.
Jalen Duren led Detroit with 18 points and seven rebounds, but the bench performances were critical as Isaiah Stewart’s 16 and Ron Holland’s 13 gave the Pistons a chance down the stretch.
The physicality was turned up immediately as the Pistons and Rockets felt each other out to a 10-10 stalemate after five minutes.
But the Pistons’ starting group began showing cracks, turning the ball over on three consecutive possessions and allowing the Rockets a 7-2 run midway though the first.
Cade Cunningham shrugged off an 0-for-3 start from the field to make three of his next four attempts and pull the Pistons back into the game early. But a foul on a three-pointer by Jaden Ivey and a well-worked ball by the Rockets to Kevin Durant for a late three sealed a 28-20 deficit.
With the starting group not getting much consistently against Houston, the Pistons turned to their favorite “bench mob” featuring Ivey, Holland, Stewart, Daniss Jenkins and Javonte Green.
Getting to start the second quarter, the unit held a group of primarily Houston’s starters to 2-of-12 shooting from the field and catapulted the Pistons back in front.
Holland became the focal point, driving to the rim for three energetic finishes and grabbing an offensive rebound that built to an Ivey triple.
The Pistons continued pushing as they added key starters back in, including Ausar Thompson showing off some aggression on offense. He drained a pair of mid-range jump shots and earned a trip to the line as he showcased up against his twin brother, Amen, who plays for Houston.
While three-point shooting was rough in the first half (2-of-15), the Pistons were almost unstoppable inside the arc. In the second quarter Detroit finished 13-of-14 on two-point shots, with the only miss being at the buzzer to keep the score level at 52.
The third quarter quickly unraveled for the Pistons as they let Houston get out on a 14-2 run to take control of the matchup while shooting 68% from the field in the period.
Detroit found some rhythm, briefly, with Jenkins and Ivey hitting back-to-back three-pointer ending a run of seven straight misses from deep.
However, Reed Sheppard was there to quell the momentum with consecutive makes as part of a 10-point quarter that pushed Houston ahead by 14 going into the fourth.
The Pistons started to find their momentum following a flagrant foul committed by Houston’s Jae’Sean Tate, who upended Holland away from the ball on an early possession. He sank both foul shots and Stewart finished at the rim on back-to-back possessions off Cunningham dimes to generate an 11-1 run.
The Pistons got as close as three points after Stewart cleaned up a miss from Holland and continued hammering away, but the Rockets kept finding a response.
Detroit went back to its primary starting five, swapping Thompson and Jenkins for a large burst, but the group never caught fire and couldn’t manage the comeback.
The Pistons’ four-game winning streak comes to an end with the defeat and Detroit suffered just its fifth loss at home this season.
[**BOX SCORE**](https://go.skimresources.com?id=126006X1587345&xs=1&xcust=jacob-richman%7C&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nba.com%2Fgame%2Fhou-vs-det-0022500635%2Fbox-score%23box-score&product_category=Sporting+Goods%3EAthletics%3EBasketball)
**Up next:** The Pistons have one more home game on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings before going out on a three-game road swing out West.