Hornets at Pistons
The Detroit Pistons look almost nothing like the team that entered the season, and the losses are piling up with star players either sidelined or traded away. They'll try to snap their latest skid at two games when they host another struggling squad in the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.
With Blake Griffin (knee), Derrick Rose (hip), Luke Kennard (knee), Markieff Morris (illness), Brandon Knight (knee) and Sviatoslov Mykhailiuk (hip) all out and center Andre Drummond shipped away to Cleveland, the Pistons lost both ends of a back-to-back over the weekend. They were outrebounded 47-28 and allowed the Knicks to corral 16 offensive boards in a 95-92 loss to New York at home Saturday night. "They got after it and we gave up a lot of offensive boards," guard Reggie Jackson told reporters. "Second-chance opportunities - they got 17 points, so that's very difficult. We've got to figure out a way to rebound as a collective group." The Hornets have lost five in a row and 13 of the last 14 after a 116-100 loss to Dallas at home Saturday, but they own nine consecutive wins over Detroit.
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southeast, FS Detroit
ABOUT THE HORNETS (16-36): Charlotte was quiet at the trade deadline but has continued to shape the roster by waiving veteran Marvin Williams and former No. 2 pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist before the loss to the Mavericks. "We just have to stay together," guard Devonte' Graham told reporters. "Keep coming, keep fighting. You know in this league you never know. Guys get traded, guys leave and you got to be the next man up. Everybody collectively has to step their game up, whether it's leadership on the court, communication, all of that. Everybody has to do a bit more." Graham has been a leader on the court all season and shined with 26 points and 10 assists in Saturday's loss.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (19-36): Jackson is doing his best to carry Detroit through the stretch with a lean roster, scoring at least 20 points in four of his five games this month and tying a season high with nine assists versus New York. Christian Wood earned his second straight start Saturday and responded with his second straight double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Veteran forward John Henson, acquired in the deal that sent Drummond to Cleveland, had a solid debut with the Pistons on Saturday by making all six of his shot attempts in 18 minutes off the bench.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Charlotte's nine-game winning streak in the series includes three victories earlier this season by a total of seven points.
2. Hornets SF Miles Bridges is averging 20.8 points over his last five games.
3. Wood shoots 46.2 percent from 3-point range at home, compared to 30.4 percent on the road.