“I knew they were going to double Arron (Afflalo), he had just made two shots,” Mejia explained about the game-winning shot. “I just tried to give him space to create. He penetrated and kicked it out, gave me a great pass and I was able to make the shot.”

Mejia, the 57th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, earned Second Team All-Big East Conference honors as a senior at DePaul. He finished with 12 points (4-11 FG) in 29 minutes.

With Detroit down two (83-85) in regulation, rookie Rodney Stuckey drove the lane, got fouled and made two free throws to tie the game at 85 with nine seconds left. On the ensuing play, Sixers’ guard Louis Williams had a shot to win the game at the buzzer, but his one-handed heave from just inside the three-point line fell short.

Williams was the star of the game for the Sixers, hitting for a game-high 32 points (6-15 FG, 17-17 FT), four rebounds and four assists. Rookie Jason Smith collected seven points and a game-high eight rebounds in the loss.

“We just couldn’t make the plays down the stretch,” Williams said of the game. “We have a good day of rest ahead of us tomorrow and we’ll come back strong on Monday.”

Big man Jason Maxiell led the Pistons in scoring with 22 points (7-10 FG, 8-11 FT), while Stuckey and Afflalo had 14 points a piece.

The game featured 18 ties and 15 lead changes.

NOTES: Sixers’ Louis Amundson sprained his left ankle with 2:02 left in the second quarter and did not return. He is listed as questionable for the next game.