Philadelphia — In the past two years, almost every matchup between the Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers gets the centers of attention: Andre Drummond and Joel Embiid.
Pistons coach Dwane Casey downplayed Monday's marquee matchup, saying it was the Pistons versus the Sixers.
It was exactly that, as the Pistons were without Blake Griffin, whom they decided to rest, for the second game of a back-to-back. With injuries to Stanley Johnson, Reggie Bullock and Ish Smith, the Pistons were shorthanded — but it was all of the Pistons against the Sixers.
The Pistons stayed close, keeping the margin within single digits for much of the second half, but couldn’t get the lead.