AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons put up more fight, but they were playing the San Antonio Spurs, a team that fought back and fought better in the final seconds.
Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson each missed critical shots in the final 10 seconds, and San Antonio made enough free throws to pull out an 83-79 win against the Pistons on Thursday at The Palace of Auburn Hills. "It came down to we got to make some shots," Detroit coach Michael Curry said after his team dropped a fifth consecutive game, the 10th in the past 12 and the eighth of the past 10 at home.
"But as long as we continue to fight that way, and defend, we will be OK."
Wallace was 4-of-16 shooting from the field when his 17-footer banged off the rim with 10 seconds remaining and the Pistons trailing 80-79.
The play was called for Iverson, who led the Pistons with 31 points, but he read the double-team and dropped it to Wallace in the post.
Five seconds later, the Pistons trailed by three and Iverson launched a 3-point shot that missed.
"I had more time than I thought, and I kind of rushed it," Iverson said. "You talk about plays like that, and they matter so much.
"But just getting to that point where we need a desperation shot -- that's the frustrating part."
Tony Parker, who shot 7-of-20 from the field, finished with 19 points and 11 assists, and Tim Duncan had 18 points and 18 rebounds.
Matt Bonner, a 6-foot-10 center who bombs away, hurt the Pistons with 15 points, including 5-of-8 on 3-point shots.
The Pistons jumped to a 19-9 lead in the first 8 minutes of the game, but trailed by five at halftime and by six to start the fourth quarter. Iverson led the fruitless rally with 12 of his points in the final quarter.
"Last couple games, we talked about effort, but the effort was there," Iverson said. "Everybody gave what they had, and left it on the floor."
Curry hopes the five-game road trip in eight days starting Sunday is a good thing.
"It's disappointing we have a better record on the road than we do at home, but it shows we're capable of pulling together, having focus and playing in tough territory," he said. "I feel confident we well play well on this trip."
The Pistons, who were 34-7 at home last year, are 14-15 at the Palace this season and fell to within one game of a .500 record (27-26).
"Obviously, (the road trip) is critical because we are not winning," Iverson said. "But all we got to concentrate on is one game at a time."
