NBA scores 2016: Andre Drummond, Pistons survive Rockets’ hacking to earn 123-114 win

The Pistons-Rockets hackfest, progress in Sacramento and the rest of the action from Wednesday in the NBA.

Jan 21, 2016, 1:00 PM UTC

Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Rockets tried to hack Andre Drummond like crazy when all else failed, but that strategy didn't work either in a 123-114 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. The game, which at times devolved into a series of whistles and free throws, was one of the most aggressive uses of the hacking strategy we've ever seen in an NBA game.

Drummond, the Pistons' shooting-impaired center, took a ridiculous 36 free throws in 23 minutes of playing time as the Rockets threw defenders at him. He made just 13 of the shots, setting an NBA record for most missed free throws in a game with 23.

Houston was at times unusually aggressive in implementing the strategy. The team opened the third quarter by forcing itself into the penalty with a sequence unlike anything we've ever seen. Reserve forward K.J. McDaniels checked in to open the second half and fouled Drummond five times in the first 10 seconds of the period so the Rockets would immediately be in the bonus. In the first two and a half minutes of the third quarter, Drummond was fouled 12 times and took 16 free throws. It got so out of hand that Stan Van Gundy temporarily had to pull Drummond from the game in order to help his team regroup.

We've seen teams go wild hacking centers who can't shoot like Drummond, DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard, but the move with McDaniels was a new one. Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff knew he wanted to start hacking immediately to open the third quarter and realized he could accomplish that by committing quick fouls. The resulting several minutes could be loosely called basketball and stretched the definition of "aesthetically pleasing."

With the Rockets taking the hacking strategy to its extreme, the debate surrounding the strategy will surely find some new life. The NBA has been insistent that these are limited instances not worthy of any major changes, but it's easy to see why so many fans question rules that lead to situations like we saw Wednesday. Houston basically ground the game down to a halt at times and lost anyway. McDaniels and teammate Montrezl Harrell committed a combined 10 fouls in 10 minutes. The Rockets fouled 24 more times than the Pistons did.

All the hacking helps overshadow a game in which several other players did impressive things. Marcus Morris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each racked up 22 points. Ersan Ilyasova scored 18 and Reggie Jackson added 17 points and nine assists. Even Drummond still had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Houston got a virtuoso performance from James Harden, who had a monster triple-double with 33 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists in a losing effort. It’s a shame that Harden’s spectacular effort won’t get much credit because it came in a bizarre defeat.

It’s also probably a good thing the Rockets lost despite all the hacking. That way it’s less likely we’ll see more teams copy it in the future.

2 other things we learned

Sacramento pushes into playoff position

Things are looking up for the Kings after a 112-93 win over the Lakers on Wednesday night. The team has now won six of its past nine games to jump into the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. The chances of Sacramento snapping its current playoff drought have become increasingly high in a matter of weeks.

The trio of DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Rajon Rondo has continued being the heart and soul of the team. Cousins was dominant against LA with 36 points on 13-of-22 shooting and 16 rebounds in 35 minutes. Gay scored 16 on 6-of-9 shooting. Rondo had 17 assists, the 11th time that he's dished out 15-plus in a game this season.

The Kings have now beaten the Jazz, Clippers and Lakers in three straight road games. In nine games since the beginning of January, Sacramento has posted a 6-3 record and outscored its opponents by 4.1 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com. The offense is clicking -- only four teams have been more efficient this month -- and the defense has been serviceable. The Kings' 57.9 true shooting percentage in January is third in the league behind the Warriors and Spurs. Only Golden State is playing at a faster pace.

Sacramento may not be close to that good, but it’s looking strong enough to make a playoff push. That stands as progress in Cousins’ sixth season.

The Magic are falling apart

It's officially time to be worried about Orlando. The narrative of a young team finally coming into its own under coach Scott Skiles has given way amid a major collapse. The Magic's latest stumble came in a 96-87 loss to the lowly 76ers on Wednesday night, which drops the team to 1-8 in January and 20-21 overall. Once firmly in the playoff picture, Skiles' team is now tied for 10th in the East with the Wizards.

The Magic served up a lifeless effort in their home arena to allow Philadelphia to win. The team blew a 10-point first quarter lead in a matter of minutes, got behind by double digits in the third quarter and never put together a serious rally. It's the kind of loss that continues an all-too-worrying trend for a team that was supposedly on the rise. Orlando hasn't beaten a team other than the struggling Nets since Dec. 28.

Injuries to guards Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton have helped spur this brutal stretch. Since the beginning of the month, the Magic have been outscored by 12.7 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com, which is worse than every team but the flailing Suns. The team's offense is a mess and the defense, which had driven the initial improvement, has become below average.

The Magic are still just one game out of the No. 8 seed in the East, but for a team that had been trending in the right direction, Wednesday offered up the latest cause for concern.

Play of the night

Big dunks are always good. Big dunks made by small players are the best. Rajon Rondo may have an unusually long wing span for a 6'1 point guard, but this is an impressive throwdown by the Kings star.