Houston, we have a lighting problem.
Monday’s Rockets-Pistons matinee was interrupted when the lights went out near the end of the first quarter.
‘Ron Holland open in the corner and he triples’ Detroit announcer George Blaha said as the Pistons rookie took aim from 3-point range.
It was at this moment that the lights went out at the Toyota Center, leaving the crowd in near darkness.
‘Pistons knocking ’em down from downtown,’ Blaha continued. ‘That one turns the lights out. That’s a lights-out shot.’
The lighting was restored shortly thereafter and the game continued with Detroit cruising to a 107-96 win. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Rockets for further information.
PICTURED: Near darkness during the Rockets’ game with the Pistons at the Toyota Center
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) drives against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham
It’s hardly the first basketball game to lose the lights in the middle of play.
In Atlanta in 2021, a 76ers-Hawks playoff game was interrupted near the final whistle as State Farm Arena lost its lights.
Many on social media make humorous references to the Vicki Lawrence song, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.
But a far more famous incident occurred at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, where Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was squaring off with his brother Jim and the San Francisco 49ers.
Three first-half touchdown passes by Joe Flacco and Jacoby Jones’ electrifying kickoff return to start the third quarter staked Baltimore to a 28-6 lead. The Ravens were riding a crest of momentum that seemed certain to propel them to their second NFL title when the unexpected occurred: A huge bank of lights within the stadium went dark, bringing the game to an eerie halt.
For 34 minutes, the players, coaches and fans loitered in semi-darkness. Understanding that this astonishing delay could, ironically, suck the energy out of the team, John Harbaugh gathered the Ravens together and offered up an impromptu speech.
He said: “I’ll remind you of that Motown song. There ain’t no mountain high enough, and there ain’t no valley low enough, and there’s nothing that’s going to keep us from winning this championship. Not this, and not nothing. We’re going to win this game, no matter how long it takes.”
The Ravens went on to win, 34-31.
