AUBURN HILLS -- More than concern for ending up eighth and last in the Eastern Conference playoffs pecking order, the Detroit Pistons want to finish the regular season playing well.
They have one last chance after faltering in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter and falling to the Chicago Bulls 91-88 on Monday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills. "Tonight just sums up the way we've been playing the whole season -- coming out, being up in the fourth and then just letting the game go," said Detroit's Antonio McDyess, who took the blame for the loss.
McDyess missed three shots in the closing 49 seconds, and he messed up a pick play that resulted in Rodney Stuckey getting his shot blocked by Chicago rookie point guard Derrick Rose with 35 seconds remaining and the score tied at 88.
Bulls shooting guard Ben Gordon scored on a driving layup with 15 seconds left to seal the win.
"You know, I put this whole game on me this time," McDyess said. "I definitely felt like I lost this game."
Pistons coach Michael Curry said it wasn't one player or one play, but not staying disciplined in the fourth quarter.
"I was pleased with the effort we played with, so we just have to play with that same effort and execute better," Curry said. "Nothing has come easy this season so far."
Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said his team gutted it out to get the seventh seed in the playoffs at the Pistons' expense, and Chicago celebrated Rose's blocked shot.
"It was a huge play, and I told the team that we had to keep fighting throughout the whole game," Rose said. "I didn't ever give up, and the team didn't ever give up."
Rose finished with 24 points, eight assists, five rebounds and one big blocked shot. Gordon scored 19 points.
The Pistons, who are 39-42, finished their home season 21-20. They travel to Miami for the last game of the season Wednesday night, and all that is left is to play well and await the weekend playoff schedule against top seeded Cleveland.
"Playing Cleveland, hey, Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, it don't matter at this point," McDyess said. "We have to go out there and just try to get some type of wins. I mean, we can't do it in the regular season. It definitely is tough in the postseason."
The Pistons led 75-69 starting the fourth quarter, and had led through the second and third quarters but never could pull away.
Richard Hamilton scored 25 points, including 19 in the first half, and Tayshaun Prince had 19 points. McDyess scored seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
McDyess said he is not sure what to expect in the playoffs.
"Some nights, we come out and play the best ball you have ever seen. And some nights, it seems like we ain't never played together on the court before," he said.
