Marlowe Alter, and Kirkland Crawford

Detroit Free Press

Upon further review, the Detroit Pistons still yet have a chance to make the NBA playoffs.

Though that could officially change tonight.

The Pistons (35-43) are 3 1/2 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot and have four game left on their schedule.

The Pistons must win out and need help from other teams.

Again, possible. But the Pistons have lost 10 of their past 12 games.

So, if the Pistons lose tonight in Houston (8 p.m., FSD) OR if the Heat win in Toronto, Detroit is eliminated.

It would be the seventh time in eight seasons the Pistons miss the playoffs.

The NBA draft lottery is May 16. Currently, the Pistons would have the No. 11 overall pick in the draft June 22.

ESPN NBA draft analyst Chad Ford released his latest mock draft (pay site) Tuesday and had the Pistons taking Gonzaga freshman big man Zach Collins.

"Collins proved he's worthy of a lottery pick with a dominant 14-point, 13-rebound, six-block performance coming off the bench for the Zags in the Final Four versus South Carolina," Ford wrote. "He added another nine points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the title game vs. UNC, but played limited minutes because of foul trouble.

"And scouts look beyond the stat sheet -- though the advanced analytics are very bullish on him -- at what he did almost every time he stepped onto the court. He played above the rim, was bouncy and energetic, stretched the floor and competed with toughness.

"Plus, he's used to playing with a more traditional center. In Detroit, he could make a very interesting pairing next to Andre Drummond."

At pick No. 11, the Pistons would have a 0.8% of winning the No. 1 pick in the lottery and a 2.9% chance to jump into the top three.

After tonight in Houston, Detroit plays at Memphis (Sunday), at home against Washington on Monday in the final game ever at the Palace and at Orlando (Wednesday).

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Download our Pistons Xtra app on iTunes or Android! Contact Marlowe Alter: malter@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarloweAlter.