NBA: Rockets score comeback victory over Pistons

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DETROIT — Fred VanVleet scored 17 points in the second half, including eight in a key fourth-quarter stretch, as the Houston Rockets handed the Detroit Pistons their seventh straight loss, 112-110 on Friday night in the NBA.

Detroit is 1-35 after a 2-1 start, including an NBA-record 28-game losing streak. The current streak started with a 136-113 loss to the Rockets on New Year’s Day.

Jaden Ivey had an open look at a game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds left, but it went in and out.

Alperen Sengun scored 29 and Jalen Green added 28 for Houston, which had lost two in a row. VanVleet finished with 20 points and 12 assists.

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Fred came in CLUTCH down the stretch!

🏀 20 PTS
🏀 12 AST@CreditKarma | #MoneyMoveoftheGame pic.twitter.com/paMcPBdgl2

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 13, 2024

Alec Burks and Kevin Knox II had 19 each for the Pistons, who played without leading scorers Cade Cunningham (knee) and Bojan Bogdanovic (calf).

Detroit took a 103-98 lead on Burks’ 3-pointer with 5:59 left, and the Rockets struggled to hit shots until VanVleet’s 3-point play made it 107-105 with 2:58 left.

After Ivey missed two free throws, VanVleet put Houston ahead with a 3-pointer, then made it 110-107 with a short jumper. VanVleet then picked up his 12th assist, setting up Sengun’s dunk.

Isaiah Stewart, though, hit a 3-pointer to pull the Pistons within 112-110 and VanVleet missed a 3 with 6.6 seconds left.

The game was tied at 55 going into the second half, but the Pistons started the third quarter with a 17-6 run that included 14 points from Knox and Stewart.

Houston answered with a 12-2 run that brought them within 91-88 at the end of the third. VanVleet had five points and five assists in the period.

NEXT SCHEDULE

Rockets: Visit the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.

Pistons: Visit the Washington Wizards on Monday.