Game 27 Preview: Detroit Pistons (6-20) and Nets (8-18)

Stuckey is one of the few Pistons who is healthy for the game and is a solid offensive player

The Nets look to break out of another losing streak as they take on the Detroit Pistons tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark. Anthony Morrow will return for the Nets tonight as he has come back from his home state of North Carolina for his grandmother's funeral. Each team is going through a tough time with injuries right now as Mehmet Okur, Brook Lopez, Marshon Brooks, and DeShawn Stevenson are all unavailable for the Nets tonight while the Pistons probably won't have Ben Gordon, Will Bynum, or Charlie Villanueva for this game.

Background on Detroit
The only difference with Detroit right now and when the Nets beat them a week ago (my preview for that game here, quick recap here), is that the Pistons are on a 2-game winning streak after home wins against Milwaukee and New Orleans. Heading into last week's match-up between them and the Nets, the Pistons couldn't have been playing worse basketball as they entered the game on a 6-game losing streak and left New Jersey on a 7-game losing streak. Now, with their two recent wins, Detroit's play is looking up a bit and even with all of their injury troubles, they look to be a tough opponent for the banged-up Nets.

Previous Game
As mentioned above, the Pistons last game was a 89-87 win over the Hornets on Monday. 2nd-year center and soon-to-be-superstar Greg Monroe had a monster game for Detroit, scoring 24 points while grabbing 16 rebounds as well. Three other Piston starters were in double-digits in points as this game wasn't necessarily won by Detroit's skill advantage over that of the rebuilding New Orleans team, as much as it was won by the grittiness of the Pistons who outrebounded the Hornets by four and also scored 52 of their 89 points in the paint.


The Nets last game was an absolute blow-out at the hands of the Eastern Conference's best team, the Chicago Bulls. Starting the game with a relatively quick 35-12 lead on the 1st quarter, Chicago led this this game the entire way as they simply ran circles around a depleted Nets roster with only nine healthy players. Even with Derrick Rose only playing 11 minutes doe to injury, five other Bulls players scored in double-digits, highlighted by Carlos Boozer's 24. Deron Williams, who had 25 and 10 in this game, was the only Net who showed consistent offensive production as his teammates looked sluggish, disinterested, and resigned to the fact that they had no chance against the Bulls, which in actuality, they didn't.


Probable Lineups     

DET- Knight (PG), Stuckey (SG), Prince (SF), Maxiell  (PF), Monroe (C)

NJN- D.Williams (PG), Morrow (SG), Shawne Williams (SF), Humphries (PF), Shelden Williams (C)

Prediction
The Nets haven't been playing great lately, but the Pistons just don't look to have enough scoring to overcome Deron Williams and crew; 96-85 Nets.