DETROIT — The Nets failed their first back-to-back test of the young season.
After smothering the high-scoring Rockets on Friday at home, the Nets rallied but fell short, 113-109, to the injury-riddled Pistons on Saturday night.
Detroit didn’t have Blake Griffin, Reggie Jackson or Derrick Rose, but apparently didn’t need them. After digging themselves a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit, the Nets rallied to get within one on Kyrie Irving’s driving layup that made it 108-107 with 17.4 seconds left in regulation. But there was no overtime and no winning rally.
Stunningly taking forever to chase the Pistons down and foul, the Nets let Detroit bleed the clock until finally sending Luke Kennard to the line with 8.