SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs (14-42) battled the Pistons all night in a double overtime thriller, but fell 138-131 in their 11th loss in a row.
Zach Collins and Malaki Branham each scored career highs and Devonte' Graham put up 31 in his San Antonio debut, but it wasn't enough to keep the team from losing this tank battle (or winning, depending on how you look at it).
With four starters out due to various injuries, Blake Wesley got his first NBA start. He matched up with Jaden Ivey someone he grew up playing with in South Bend. The rookie played some tough defense, but turned it over a few times in the first few minutes.
Fellow rookie Malaki Branham knocked down a three from the corner to start the scoring, then Wesley knocked one down as well.
Branham drove for a couple of layups, then Keita Bates-Diop got one in transition off a block by newly-starting Zach Collins to make it a 12-5 lead.
Detroit ended their scoring drought, but Doug McDermott drilled a three and Isaiah Roby got himself an and-1.
Newly-acquired Devonte' Graham came in off the bench, got the ball with the shot clock winding down, stepped back and chucked a three that swished. He tipped in a putback on the next trip.
Rookie Dominick Barlow grabbed a loose one and got it to veteran big man Gorgui Dieng, who catapulted in a three to beat the buzzer.
San Antonio led 28-19 after one. KBD drove for an and-1, then McBuckets floated one in. Barlow pump faked for a bucket inside, then fell victim to the pump fake on the other end.
Collins posted up former Spur Cory Joseph and muscled in for an and-1. Branham hit another triple, and Collins scored inside again.
San Antonio led by as many as 16, but the Pistons ripped off a 25-7 run to climb into the lead after a rough start shooting the ball. Graham bravely took a charge on Isaiah Stewart, then dropped it down to Collins for a layup to give the Spurs a 54-53 lead at halftime.
Collins knocked down a triple from the top at the start of the second half, then grabbed an offensive board and hooked it in. Detroit went on a 10-0 run fueled by turnovers and offensive boards before Collins scored on another hook.
Devonte' Graham drove for free throws, then wiggled his way to the rim for an and-1. He knocked down a three a few trips later. Doug McDermott got rolled up on and left the game with a sore achilles. San Antonio turned it over eight times in the third and gave up 38 points in the period. They trailed 91-83 heading to the fourth.
Branham hit his third triple of the night, then drove for a bucket in traffic. KBD spun in and laid it up and in to make it a three-point game.
Stanley Johnson made a few hustle plays and bodied his way in for a transition layup, but the Pistons pushed in front by eight.
Collins posted up for free throws giving him a career-high 19 points, then drove and turned the corner for a strong score. Graham hit his third three, some free throws, and his fourth three. He hit a mean hesi and hit his fifth three, giving him 26 in his Spurs debut and tying the game at 107. Collins again scored inside, adding to his career high.
Detroit pushed in front by four, then Collins used some nifty footwork in the paint for another layup. Johnson grabbed a steal and dunked for the tie. Graham chucked a deep one that missed, and Johnson missed a quick jumper on the offensive board. He made up for it with good defense on the last possession, forcing overtime.
Collins picked up right where he left off, drawing a foul in the post for more free throws. Branham drove for a poster dunk attempt, but got free throws instead. The Pistons pushed back, and Collins made yet another layup.
KBD blocked a three, and Collins got back to the stripe and hit one of two. Ivey drove for free throws on the other end, cutting San Antonio's lead to just one. Graham got bumped and got free throws, making both. Ivey missed a three, then the Spurs' offensive possession went nowhere.
Ivey drove into contact and a whistle came late, resulting in incredulity from every Spur on the floor. Pop challenged the call, unsuccessfully. Ivey hit both to make it a one-point game with 34 seconds left.
Devonte' Graham came off a screen, pumped and hit his sixth three, putting the Spurs up four with 18 seconds left. That's the most points ever in a Spurs debut.
It felt like a dagger, but on the other end Bojan Bogdanovic rained a quick three over Graham. They reviewed it though, and his foot was on the line.
Bogdanovic stole the ensuing inbound and jacked up a wild shot, getting two free throws. Collins fouled out on the play, finishing with a career-high 29 points and 11 boards. He hit both, the Spurs missed on the last possession, and somehow the game went to double overtime.
Dieng lobbed it to KBD to start the scoring, but Bogdonavic answered on the other end. Johnson posted Bogdonavic up and popped it in, the Spurs got another stop, and Branham drove for a layup to make it a career-high 27.
Bogdanovic got more free throws to cut San Antonio's advantage in half. The Pistons had been awful from three all game, but Isaiah Livers knocked one down to put the Pistons in front. Isaiah Stewart got another putback to make it a three-point lead. San Antonio missed again, Bogdanovic got to the line again, and that all but sealed it.
The Spurs fell 138-131, and will hop on a plane to Atlanta for a game tomorrow.
GAME REWIND
The Spurs are coming off a 112-98 loss versus the Raptors in Toronto.
Keldon Johnson had 22 points and three assists to lead the team while Josh Richardson added 14 points. Jakob Poeltl finished with 12 points and seven rebounds in his final game with the Spurs while Doug McDermott recorded 13 points in the loss.
Tre Jones, Romeo Langford, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan did not play due to injuries.
The Raptors had six players score in double figures and held San Antonio to just 98 points, marking it the fourth time this season the Raptors have held opponents under 100 points.
"It looks like a bucket on the other end with their [Raptors] speed and their athleticism. They got too many points off our turnovers but that's how they play. It's one of their strengths," Gregg Popovich said. "We did a pretty good job in a lot of ways. The young kids showed more physicality. A little better decision-making. Overall, I was pleased with their performance."
INJURY REPORT
San Antonio announced the team has waived Dewayne Dedmon.
THE UNIFORMS
The Spurs will be in their City Edition jerseys today.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
1. The Pistons have lost two-straight games at home.
2. The Pistons are 1-17 at home when trailing at halftime.
3. The Pistons are 6-14 versus teams with a below .500 record this season.
4. The Spurs have lost 12 consecutive road games.
5. The Spurs are allowing 125.7 opponent points per game in their last three games.
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