[box score] The Pistons held the lead for most of this contest, but their young second unit was unable to seal the deal. After a few late runs the Pistons seen their double digit lead evaporate to a seemingly undermatched Cavs bench at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena.

The Pistons were unable to score late in the game, which allowed Cleveland to get back into the game and then with less than a second in the game the Cavs got two clutch free throws by Dwayne Jones, an unlikely hero to say the least, to force overtime. The Pistons didn’t have one field goal in the overtime which will seal your fate 10.5 times out of 10.

I’ll put it out there, I HATE THE CAVS. No matter what the occasion I want the Cavs on their backs staring up at the lights because a Mack truck with Michigan plates just flattened them out. But, the reality we can’t win every time. It’s only a preseason game so in the grand scheme it’s not the end of the world. It would have been nice for the young guy’s confidence to have not blown the save for the starters. Like all preseason games this one was a learning experience.

GAME NOTES:

• Rasheed Wallace had some exchanges with Lebron James & Drew Gooden
• The Cavs were with out contract hold outs Anderson Varejao & Sasha Pavlovich
• Lindsey Hunter, Gerald Fitch, Ronald Murray, Sammy Mejia, Cheick Samb all had DNP - coaches decision
• Amir Johnson missed his second game due to the sprained ankle suffered in practice
• Arron Afflalo, Rip Hamilton, and Chauncey all scored 12 points
• Nazr Mohammed had to sit late after being kicked in the calf muscle
• Pistons shot 1/10 behind the 3 pt arc
• Jason Maxiell played a game high 33 minutes


QUOTES:

Rasheed on jawing with the Cavs:

“Just the usual, young punks thinking they really did something,” said the always outspoken Wallace. “So now we gonna have to put those young-ass cats in their place. You know, he got a little bit out of control with his mouth; that’s all. The normal junk talk.”

Saunder’s on the rooks learning experience:

“We got into a situation where they’re going to have to learn how to play with a lead,” Saunders said. “And they have to learn how to tighten things up a little bit. We kind of let them play a little bit, let them see as far as what they can do out there on their own.

“Sometimes, in order to learn how to succeed, you have to fail. This is what the exhibition is about.”