DETROIT — The Pistons got back the Jerami Grant that they had been missing.
Grant, the Pistons’ leading scorer, played for the first time since injuring his thumb on Dec. 10, and his offense gave them a needed shot in the arm.
The Pistons didn’t capitalize on Grant’s return, and they lost, 111-101, to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at Little Caesars Arena. It’s the fifth loss in the last six games for the Pistons (12-38), who next face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
Grant missed 24 games because of a thumb injury, and he had a successful return, with 17 points, on 6-of-13 shooting. He made the first field goal of the game and finished the first half with a flurry, helping the Pistons control the middle quarters.
The Pelicans (19-32) rallied in the fourth quarter and grabbed the lead, behind Brandon Ingram (26 points and four assists) and Jonas Valanciunas (13 points and 13 rebounds).
The Pistons reveled in the return of Grant and Kelly Olynyk, who played in only two of the last 36 games, but they lost rookie Cade Cunningham to a right hip pointer. The severity of the injury is unclear, as is whether the rookie will miss any games.
The Pistons had a 15-point lead in the third quarter, and they looked to be in control entering the final period, following a basket by Killian Hayes for an 87-84 lead. They retained the four-point lead at the 9:42 mark with a basket by Isaiah Stewart (eight points and 11 rebounds).
New Orleans used a 12-3 run, with six points by Valanciunas and four points from Ingram to take the lead for good and to pull away in the final minutes.
