NEW YORK _ So much for that so-called easy schedule.
Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez's runner at the buzzer set off a wild celebration and the 98-96 loss delivered a major blow to the Detroit Pistons' playoff hopes Tuesday night at the Barclays Center.
The Pistons trailed by 11 points early in the fourth quarter, but a furious rally led by backup point Ish Smith's 12 points allowed the Pistons to stay in the game.
And Tobias Harris' offensive rebound and short jumper tied the game at 96 with 2.4 seconds remaining.
But the Nets called timeout and Lopez scored the basket over Aron Baynes, who entered the game with 3:38 to play for Andre Drummond, who left with injury.
With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Pistons bungled their way through most of the evening.
Reggie Jackson was once again ineffective (seven points and two assists in 20 minutes) and the team shot 5-for-23 from three-point range.
The Pistons (34-37) fell behind the Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
The Nets only real threat, Lopez, did plenty of damage with 29 points and seven rebounds.
But the likes of K.J. McDaniels and Archie Goodwin inflicted a major blow to the Pistons' playoff hopes, as the Nets bench scored 37 points, outscoring the Pistons' by 17.
Harris finished with 24 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 19 points. Smith finished with 16 points.
Former U-M standout Caris LeVert scored 15 points for the Nets (14-56).
The Pistons are now 1-6 in their last two seasons at the Nets and Knicks.
It looked like the Pistons would take the game seriously when they closed the first quarter on a 15-4 run to take a 31-22 lead.
The Pistons rode Harris, who overwhelmed LeVert for 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the first quarter.
Detroit gave the Nets a steady diet of Harris in the low post.
But it was a listless start to the second quarter with Jackson at point guard. The Nets quickly answered with a 7-0 run to start the second quarter.
LeVert's 3-pointer tied the game at 39 at the 4:57 mark. And his 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds left in the first half gave the Nets a 50-44 lead at halftime.
The Pistons could only manage 13 points in the second quarter against one of the league's worst defensive teams.
