Tobias Harris returned to action Wednesday night after missing the previous two games with right Achilles tendinopathy.
The veteran forward played well in his 22 minutes, scoring 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and adding four rebounds. However, his night was cut short as the same injury forced him to exit the game early.
Already shorthanded with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey sidelined by injuries — and several key players serving suspensions — the Detroit Pistons fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 119-103, at Paycom Center.
After starting ice cold and missing his first eight shots, Pistons guard Malik Beasley found his rhythm in the second half.
Detroit, which trailed by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter, began closing the gap when Beasley hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to single digits with about nine minutes left in regulation.
Beasley knocked down another 3-pointer with 4:31 remaining, followed by an Ausar Thompson putback that trimmed the Thunder’s lead to 107-103. Beasley finished with 11 points.
However, an offensive foul on Jalen Duren, followed by a Dennis Schröder turnover on the next possession, allowed Oklahoma City to capitalize. Lu Dort, who scored 14 points, drilled a dagger 3-pointer with 2:49 remaining, sealing the Pistons’ fate.
MVP candidate Shai Gileous-Alexander led the Thunder with 33 points along with six rebounds. Jalen Williams added 23 points and five rebounds. Chet Holmgren also finished with a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
With the loss, Detroit dropped the season series to Oklahoma City. Schröder, starting in place of Cunningham (left calf soreness), finished with 15 points and seven assists.
Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Pistons with 23 points, while Thompson and Duren each added 13.
Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland, and Marcus Sasser all missed Wednesday’s game as they served suspensions from Sunday’s altercation with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Rookies Daniss Jenkins and Tolu Smith — both on two-way contracts — were called up from the Motor City Cruise, along with Bobi Klintman, to join the active roster.
The Pistons wrap up their road trip Friday against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.