Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy did his best Wednesday night to avoid getting a call from the NBA league office.

But after the Charlotte Hornets got to the free throw line 21 more times than the Pistons -- leading to a 16-point advantage for the Hornets in Wednesday's 87-77 win over Detroit -- Van Gundy was pretty clear.

“You can’t have a 20-free throw differential and expect to win -- no matter how hard you’re fighting,” Van Gundy said.

The Hornets shot 29 free throws. The Pistons shot eight.

The Pistons have been sending teams to the free throw line at an increased rate lately. Van Gundy said the team needs to get into film room to correct it.

“We got to keep growing as team and, as you grow as a team and grow in status maybe a little bit, the calls start to go your way a little better," he said. "I thought Tobias (Harris) was doing a good job attacking and didn’t get to the free throw line a single time. That one’s a little hard to stomach.”

Point guard Reggie Jackson also was asked about the free throw disparity. He paused, measuring his words carefully.

“Twenty-nine to eight,” as he nodded his head.

“They almost made three times as many free throws as we took, so that’s your game right there. I don’t know what it was. I don’t know if necessarily we weren’t in the paint and they couldn’t see us getting fouled, but I think you can attribute much of what went on tonight in the disparity in free throw attempts.”

Harris added: “You can’t really let the officials affect how we play. But at the same time, we gotta keep attacking, keep going and try to find some easier way to get good looks.”

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Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.