The Pistons failed to execute down the stretch last night and Portland pulled out a 105-to-100 win over Detroit at the Palace. The close game found the Pistons ahead 95-to-93 with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter. But that was their last lead and the Blazers nailed down their fourth straight victory.

Ben Gordon came off the bench to pace the Pistons with 18 points. The defeat drops Detroit 5-and-a-half games behind the Indiana Pacers in the race for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth. The Pistons host Atlanta tonight and then play the Pacers at the Palace Wednesday for their last game before the All Star break.