AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - The Detroit Pistons say Flip Saunders will not be back as coach next season.

“Decisions like this are difficult to make,” team president Joe Dumars said on the team’s Web site. “However, at this time, I feel it is necessary to make a change.”Saunders was 176-70 in three seasons in Detroit and guded the team to three straight Eastern Conference finals. But the Pistons fell short of the NBA finals each time.