Pistons fade late in loss to Hornets

Charlotte, N.C. —  In a low-scoring, hard-fought game, the outcome usually comes down to a possession or two.

And some other stats, like free throws.

The Pistons didn’t get the benefit of either on Wednesday night.

In a struggling offensive display for both teams, neither the Pistons nor the Hornets pulled away by more than six points until the fourth quarter.

But when it came time to make plays, the Hornets made them when then needed to — and the Pistons didn’t.

The result for the Pistons was an ugly 87-77 loss at Spectrum Center, a week after taking an impressive win in their three-game road streak.

BOX SCORE: Hornets 87, Pistons 77

Andre Drummond notched his fifth straight double-double — his 16th of the season — with a season-high 26 points and 20 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough, as the Pistons (12-12) had their fewest points of the season and dropped the second game of a back-to-back.

“It was a hard-fought game; both teams struggled offensively,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. “Clearly, if you can make some open shots, you would win the game. The glaring difference in the game is at the free-throw line. They got to the line 29 times; we got to the line eight time. Ballgame.”

The free-throw disparity was just one of the hideous numbers for the Pistons, who shot just 38 percent from the field and 15 percent (4-of-27) on 3-pointers. Of the Pistons’ eight free throws, Drummond took seven (and made four); the only other attempt was a make by Darrun Hilliard.

Pistons' Drummond prospering from Jackson's return

The Hornets (13-9) had their share of ugly numbers: 34 percent on field goals and 29 percent on 3-pointers. But they made the shots when it counted.

Kemba Walker scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Marco Belinelli added nine of his 13 points in the final period. The pair combined for 23 of the Hornets’ 26 points in the decisive quarter, as the team converted 53 percent from the field.

“We had a stretch where we allowed three straight possessions of Kemba Walker making layups,” Drummond said, “so that kind of bit us at the end of the game.”

As poorly as the Hornets played offensively, the Pistons couldn’t take advantage, leading by only one after the first quarter and 39-38 at halftime. It’s only the fourth time this season that both teams failed to reach at least 40 points in the first half.

Each team managed just 15 points in the second quarter, as the Pistons shot 29 percent and the Hornets 22, but they couldn’t create any separation. The Hornets went ahead after three quarters, 61-58, on a putback at the buzzer by Roy Hibbert.

The Hornets had a 9-0 run to stretch the lead to 70-60, with three jumpers by Belinelli and a layin by Walker. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a 3-pointer to end the drought but Walker answered with a 3-pointer and after Drummond hit a layin, Walker responded with a basket, keeping the Pistons at bay.

The Pistons made one last charge, with a floater by Reggie Jackson, two free throws from Drummond and a basket in the lane by Tobias Harris (14 points, seven rebounds). Drummond added a dunk on the next possession to cut it to 75-73 with 4:49 left, but the Pistons didn’t get any closer.

The Hornets scored the next eight points — five by Walker and a 3-pointer by Belinelli — and the Pistons only mustered two more baskets by Drummond in the final four minutes.

“They had a lot of missed shots too. There’s no excuses; again, we missed a lot of shots,” Van Gundy said. “It came down to 29 free-throw attempts to eight. Even the way we shot the ball, they shot it worse from the floor.

“It came down to being able to get to the line and not being able to get to the line. That’s a huge differential to try to win the game with.”

Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard