Morris scores 37, Pistons beat Blazers in OT

Auburn Hills — Marcus Morris scored the first seven points of overtime on his way to a game-high and career-high 37, and the Pistons defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 120-113, Tuesday night at The Palace.

Damian Lillard scored 34 for the Trail Blazers but couldn’t keep up the heroics in overtime.

Morris was 3-for-3 from the field in the extra frame and kept the Pistons in the game early in the second half. He scored 15 in the third quarter when he wasn’t getting much help from his teammates.

BOX SCORE: Pistons 120, Trail Blazers 113, overtime

“He carried us for a long stretch,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. “It was really him in that third quarter that kept us close enough to have a chance. That might be the best game he’s played since he’s been here.”

It was the third time in February the Pistons trailed by 13 or more points in the second half, and despite taking a late lead in the fourth quarter, it was a story they almost didn’t get a chance to write.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was called for a technical foul with 10.8 seconds remaining in regulation and his team leading by two as Portland took a timeout. Lillard would miss the ensuing free throw, but he made up for that with a driving layup for the tie with 2.8 seconds on the clock.

“I will have a conversation (with him),” Van Gundy said of Caldwell-Pope’s technical foul. “No matter how upset you are at that point, you have to walk away.”

“We got lucky that (Lillard) missed the free throw.”

The Pistons still had one chance to win in regulation, but Morris’ fade-away jumper came up short.

In overtime, the Pistons kept up the defensive intensity, forcing the Trail Blazers into three turnovers and tough shots that allowed the Pistons to control the pace.

“We all came out with a mindset to go into overtime and buckle down,” Andre Drummond said. “Our defense really carried us.”

An extreme malaise dogged the Pistons in the first half, but they fought their way out of it and roared back in the fourth quarter. They forced 24 turnovers, including 15 in the second half and overtime, while they only turned the ball over seven times.

Ish Smith gave the Pistons a big spark to start the fourth, scoring eight quick points to give them their first lead since they were up 2-0.

“That’s something he does every night,” Drummond said. “He’s a spark plug, a high energy guy. When he comes off the bench, we know exactly what we’re going to get from him.”

After Smith went to the bench for a breather, the Pistons kept firing on all cylinders on their way to building a 102-94 lead. Smith would return to play the final five minutes of regulation and the entire overtime.

Van Gundy said the move was motivated by Reggie Jackson’s struggles on defense against the Trail Blazers backcourt.

“(Jackson) was playing OK offensively but was struggling on the other end with the quickness of (Lillard) and (C.J. McCollum),” Van Gundy said. “We felt better having a little bit more quickness on the floor.”

The return of Smith didn’t stop Lillard, however, as he led Portland back before two Jusuf Nurkic free throws gave the Trail Blazers a 107-105 lead. The Pistons answered with consecutive jumpers from Morris and Caldwell-Pope to go back on top 109-107.

Lillard and McCollum were uncanny for Portland as they took 42 of their team’s 84 shots from the field. Lillard had a near triple-double with 34 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, while McCollum scored 25 for Portland.

Drummond stayed out of foul trouble after picking up two quick ones in the first quarter, proving to be a force the Trail Blazers couldn’t handle. He finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds.

The Pistons had six players score in double figures. Caldwell-Pope had 16, Smith 12, Tobias Harris 11 and Jackson 10.

Things didn’t start so well for the Pistons as they struggled to a 2-for-12 start from the floor.

Frustrated with the starters, Stan Van Gundy turned to the bench.

Aron Baynes provided a boost with seven points and three rebounds during Drummond’s extended absence in the first half. The Pistons’ backup center clogged the lane on defense and forced Portland into some tough shots that allowed the Pistons to chip away at their deficit.

Baynes finished with nine points and six rebounds.

Geoff Robinson is a freelance writer.