AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons missed a potential go-ahead layup, then missed a potential game-winning lob to Andre Drummond on the game's final play, and dropped a 98-97 thriller to the Los Angeles Lakers today.

The lob to Drummond, from Kyle Singler on the sideline, came after the Pistons called timeout following a most unlikely occurrence, two missed free throws by Steve Nash, with the Pistons getting the rebound with 1.2 seconds left.

Earl Clark also left the door open by missing two free throws with 16.8 seconds left and the Lakers leading by what became the final score. But Will Bynum's hard isolation drive against Kobe Bryant resulted in a high-glass rim-out and the subsequent foul on Nash.

Bynum slipped to his knees in dismay, head in hands, though it proved not to be the Pistons' last chance.

Singler looked for other options before slinging the ball high to Drummond at the rim. Pau Gasol converged on the play and there might have been contact but the whistle didn't blow and Drummond's dunk attempt sailed over the rim.

The Pistons (18-30) trailed by as many as 18 points in the third quarter and appeared headed for a blowout.

Drummond and Bynum spurred the comeback.

With the Pistons down 76-64, Drummond scored on a fast-break lob dunk from Bynum, Bynum scored on the break on a nice Rodney Stuckey bounce pass after a missed Bryant jumper, and Drummond scored another transition dunk to pull the Pistons within six.

The Pistons never led in the fourth quarter but drew even twice, at 91-91 and 95-95, behind more bench production, including a pair of 3-pointers by Charlie Villanueva and defense sturdy enough to force air balls by Gasol and Kobe Bryant in succession.

HIGHLIGHTS

--The Pistons narrowly missed having three players with double-doubles. Greg Monroe had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Will Bynum had 18 points and 10 assists. Drummond had nine points and 11 rebounds.

--A crowd of 18,157 visited The Palace of Auburn Hills, a typical pro-Lakers boost. It was the third-largest crowd here this season, trailing the Dec. 28 Miami game (22,076) and Jan. 12 Utah game (18,441).

LOWLIGHTS

--Metta World Peace, who as Ron Artest has a well-documented history of trouble at The Palace of Auburn Hills, drew a Flagrant-One foul with 1:43 left in the first half. He grabbed Brandon Knight, who was guarding him off the ball, around the neck, then appeared to throw a mild left uppercut. Knight pushed him away and players and officials broke them apart.

--Jonas Jerebko was out of the rotation for two months and his performance Sunday is why, particularly on an inbounds play with four-tenths of a second left in the first half, when he allowed Earl Clark to attack the basket for a lob dunk on a halfcourt pass from Kobe Bryant to make it 62-51 at halftime.

ISSUE OF THE DAY: FINAL VERDICT

The Lakers have won five of their last six games but whether they have discovered themselves is a different question. If this is a sign of continued defensive improvement, they're on their way, but there were definitely times that wasn't evident.

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