AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- James Harden has made a living at the free throw line in recent years. This time, his touch was off when it mattered most.Harden, who entered the game shooting 82 percent from the line, missed five free throws in the final 3 minutes against the Detroit Pistons. Fortunately for the Houston Rockets, they were able to hold on in a 99-96 victory Monday night.Harden finished with 28 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. He went 14 of 19 at the foul line, but only 4 of 9 in the fourth quarter.I had to laugh it off. Its funny, Harden said. But we all have games like this. I cant let it happen. I have to take my time, go up there concentrating on the free throw.Clint Capela added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets, who won their third straight game.We did not play well all night. I didnt think we were sharp, but we found a way to win, coach Mike DAntoni said. Its just a good win for everyone.Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 26 points and Andre Drummond had 13 points and 16 rebounds for Detroit, which has lost four in a row.With the Rockets clinging to a one-point lead and less than 10 seconds left, Harden made a free throw and missed the second, leaving Houston up 98-96.Drummond rebounded the miss and was immediately fouled by Capela with 4.6 seconds to go. Drummond missed both free throws and the Pistons fouled Harden, who again made one of two, giving Detroit a chance.Ive got to make free throws -- thats all, Harden said. Make free throws, win the game. Its pretty simple.Caldwell-Pope missed a halfcourt heave at the buzzer, handing Detroit its second straight close loss at home.Were going to have to toughen up to be able to accomplish what we want to accomplish, coach Stan Van Gundy said.Detroit led by 12 in the first quarter and took a 29-18 lead early in the second on Jon Leuers dunk. The Rockets, however, chipped away and tied it 43-all on Capelas alley-oop dunk from Harden with 4:11 left in the period.The Pistons regained a two-point edge, but Harden scored the final seven points of the first half to put Houston ahead 51-46.Houston stretched its lead to 11 in the third quarter and settled for a 79-75 advantage heading into the final period.The Pistons used an 8-0 run early in the fourth quarter to open an 85-82 lead. The teams went back and forth the rest of the way, and neither led by more than four points.Detroit, trailing 96-95 with 55 seconds left, had a chance to take the lead, but Ish Smith missed a layup. Harden made one free throw to leave Houston ahead 97-95 with 15.4 seconds left, and Caldwell-Pope answered with a free throw to get Detroit within one.TIP-INSRockets: Nene was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul in the third quarter after tripping Detroits Aron Baynes. The play was originally called a common foul, but after review it was changed to the Flagrant 1.Detroit: Marcus Morris nailed a 33-foot 3-pointer over Hardens outstretched hand to beat the third-quarter buzzer and cut Houstons lead to 79-75. The play was reviewed and replays showed the ball left Morris hands just in time.NO HOME COOKINGAfter starting the season 5-0 at home, the Pistons lost their second straight at the Palace. They lost Saturday to Boston 94-92 on Al Horfords last-second shot. Detroit is just 1-7 on the road.Its tough, especially coming off (the Boston loss), said Morris, who finished with 13 points. Weve got to find a way to play harder or just get rebounds.OFF TARGETThe Rockets were held under 100 points after surpassing the century mark in their previous seven games. Houston shot 44.9 percent from the field, including 32.3 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.We just have to continue to get better and continue to do good things down the stretch and win, Harden said. Thats all that matters.UP NEXTRockets: At home Wednesday against Toronto.Pistons: At home Wednesday against Miami. Bills Jerseys China . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Cheap Buffalo Bills Jerseys . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. http://www.cheapbillsjerseysauthentic.com/ . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Cheap Bills Jerseys China . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. Cheap Bills Jerseys Authentic . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. LINCOLN, Neb. -- It was spring practice in 2015, Nathan Gerrys first with Nebraskas new coaching staff, when defensive coordinator Mark Banker pulled him aside one day and told him he should have been able to make a difficult play.He almost bit my head off, Banker recalled. He said, `How am I supposed to make that play?Because youre Nate Gerry, Banker replied.Sure, Gerrys reputation preceded him in the changeover of coaching staffs. He started every game in 2014 and was the teams defensive co-MVP.Even though he led the Cornhuskers in tackles and interceptions last year, Gerry admits he struggled to learn Bankers pass-coverage system. Banker has taken over coaching the safeties this season, and Gerry has thrived.He has four interceptions, including two on back-to-back series last week against Wisconsin, and his seven tackles for loss are second-most on the team. This week he was among three Big Ten players named semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nations top defensive player.Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, whose sixth-ranked Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) host the No. 9 Huskers (7-1, 4-1) on Saturday night, said his co-offensive coordinator, Tim Beck, told him all about Gerry. Beck was the OC at Nebraska until Bo Pelinis firing in 2014.Hes a draftable player, very draftable player, and just real fast and physical, Meyer said.With at least five games left in his career, the senior from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is one interception from tying Dana Stephenson (1967-69) for most picks in a career (14) by a Nebraska player. Gerry already holds the school record for career tackles for loss by a defensive back with 19, and he needs five more to break the single-season record of 11 by Ciante Evans (2010-13).Me being a kid from South Dakota, given the opportunity from coach Pelini, just being able to get on the field and playing one of my years here, I thought that would have been cool for me, Gerry said. Im pretty excited for myself. I think its obviously a cool accomplishment. There is a lot more that needs to be done for this football team.Gerrry is in his second year as a team captain and leader of a secondary that has allowed only seven pass plays of 30 yards or longer through eight games.ddddddddddddLast season, the Huskers gave up 26 in 13 games.Gerrys first two interceptions of the season came against Wyoming, and he had a team-high nine tackles the following week against Oregon.He was even better the next week in his eight-tackle game against Northwestern. He made one of those exceptional plays Banker has come to expect from him when he walked up to line to cover the running back. He took two steps forward after the snap but noticed the quarterback looking to pass to a receiver cutting across the field behind him. Gerry backed up, stretched out and swatted away the pass with his left hand.Saved a touchdown, Banker said.In last weeks overtime loss at Wisconsin , Gerry was playing center field when Alex Hornibrook threw a ball right to him. Gerry showed excellent instincts on the second pick, getting in front of the intended receiver as the right-handed Bart Houston awkwardly threw back toward the middle of the field while moving left.When its pass coverage, Badgers coach Paul Chryst said, hes where he should be. Hes an opportunist.Banker said Gerrys game is similar to those of some of the top safeties he coached at Oregon State, including Sabby Piscitelli, a second-round draft pick in 2007 who played five years in the NFL.Im pleased with some of the things hes done, obviously. At the same time, there were three plays in the last game that I thought he could have made and made a difference on, Banker said. He along with everybody else, theres a ton of room for improvement.On that, Banker gets no argument from Gerry, who said hes determined to finish strong for the Big Ten West-leading Huskers.Last year I didnt fulfill my role how I wanted to, he said. This year Ive flipped the switch a little bit.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '