AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson hit a go-ahead layup with 17 seconds remaining, suppressing the Utah Jazz comeback to claim victory in their home opener at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Jackson wove through the Utah defense and found a crease below the basket's right side. After hitting the eventual game-winner, a Rodney Hood three-pointer was blocked and Detroit finished off the game with sets of perfect free throws by Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The 92-87 win was won by all-around balance by the Pistons, who had five scorers in double figures. Jackson led with 19 points and four assists, Andre Drummond racked up a double-double of 18 points and ten boards, and Caldwell-Pope added 16 and five rebounds.
Marcus Morris scored 14 in his debut with Detroit and eighth overall pick Stanley Johnson had 11 and five.
The Jazz found itself down five entering the fourth quarter following a poor third period in which they were outscored by eight. Alec Burks led a charge at the lead with ten points in the fourth, but Utah found itself coming up short in the final 15 seconds after Hood's three-point attempt was blocked.
Derrick Favors was nearly unstoppable, heading the box score for Utah with a game-high 26 points and six rebounds. Burks added 18 and six boards, and Rudy Gobert recorded six points and 12 rebounds.
Hood had 12 and six assists while Gordon Hayward had an underwhelming 13 points.
Hayward hit the Jazz's go-ahead shot, a bank-in, to make it 87-86 with 23 seconds left on the game clock, completing a 7-0 run for Utah to overcome a late six-point hole. Detroit scored six points in those final 17 seconds to seal the win.
In a game filled with short spurts of unanswered scoring and lead changes, the Pistons held a 75-66 lead near the start of the final quarter following four straight made free throws by Stanley Johnson.
This win -- Detroit's second after an opening night triumph over the Atlanta Hawks -- marks the first time the team has been two games over .500 since 2009, when they improved to 33-31 in the month of March.
Utah, who started Raulzinho Neto at the top point guard spot Wednesday night, visits the Philadelphia 76ers this Friday night to try and claim their first win of the season; tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.
The Pistons, following two straight game days to start the year, also play next on Friday night, hosting the Chicago Bulls for a 7:30 PM ET start.
Trevor Booker missed the game for the Jazz due to a suspension handed down to him by the NBA for throwing a punch at Roy Hibbert during a scuffle in a preseason game.