DETROIT _ Without three of their starters, the Pistons had an uphill climb to try to stay with the struggling Washington Wizards. Both Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin sat out because of injuries, and along with Reggie Jackson's extended absence because of a back injury, the Pistons had to piece together a starting lineup.
They stuck around for most of the game, staying close to the Wizards, down the stretch. The Pistons were within two points midway through the fourth quarter, but fell to the Wizards, 133-119, on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena.
It's the second loss to the Wizards this season, and second straight game without Drummond, who had eye inflammation because of an allergic reaction. Griffin, who missed the second half of Saturday's win over the Houston Rockets because of knee soreness.
Derrick Rose picked up the offense with 22 points, six rebounds and eight assists. Markieff Morris added 19 points and five rebounds and Bruce Brown 20 points and six rebounds for the Pistons (11-16).
The Pistons gave up 43 points in the first quarter and had an uphill climb the rest of the way. never getting the lead in the second half.
"If you give a team 43 points in the first quarter, that's the game," coach Dwane Casey said. "If you let a team see the ball go through the basket, a team that's been struggling and that's lost how many straight?
"All they needed to do is come out and we didn't come out with that same disposition we did against Houston. In this league, when you do that, bad things are going to happen."
The Wizards (8-17) led by as many as 16 points in the second quarter, with a 3-pointer and another jumper by Davis Bertans (17 points) at the 8:22 mark. The Pistons rallied with a 3-pointer by Svi Mykhailiuk, a dunk by Christian Wood (12 points and six rebounds) and a free throw by Mykhailiuk. Bradley Beal (35 points and 10 assists) followed with a 3-pointer, starting a 7-2 run.
Washington led, 67-61, at halftime and after an opening 3-pointer by Garrison Mathews, they got consecutive 3-pointers from Luke Kennard (14 points, six rebounds and six assists) and Tony Snell (10 points) to get within three points.
The Pistons stayed within single digits for most of the third quarter and had spurt by Rose, with a drive and a 3-pointer and added a 7-0 run, with two free throws from Brown, a 3-pointer by Snell and two free throws by Rose, to pull within 92-89, with 1:08 left in the third quarter.
Former Piston Ish Smith scored four straight points to extend the lead to seven before Brown's basket to trim the lead to 96-91 entering the fourth quarter.
Rose scored six of the Pistons' first eight points to open the fourth quarter, but the Wizards matched them basket for basket. The Pistons got within 109-107 after Brown scored six straight points _ all on free throws _ but Isaiah Thomas (23 points and six assists) answered with a 3-pointer. That started an 8-0 run, with two free throws by Beal and another 3-pointer from Thomas, to help put it out of reach.
The Pistons never got closer than six the rest of the way.
