Bucks at Pistons
THE STORY: The Milwaukee Bucks are no longer in the mix for a playoff spot as they visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday. Milwaukee was eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoff chase on Wednesday when the Indiana Pacers clinched the eighth and final spot. Word arrived during a contest with the Miami Heat and the Bucks weren’t derailed by the news and notched an impressive 90-85 victory over Miami. Detroit is playing out the string of a highly disappointing season. The Pistons have matched last season’s victory total and need to win three of their final four games to reach 30 victories.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSWI, FSD
ABOUT THE PISTONS (27-51): Detroit defeated the New Jersey Nets 116-109 on Wednesday for only its second win in nine games. Richard Hamilton had 25 points and Rodney Stuckey returned from a two-game benching with 22 points and 10 assists. Stuckey drew the ire of coach John Kuester for declining to re-enter a game against the Chicago Bulls on April 1 but got extended minutes in the second half after Will Bynum injured his right knee. Bynum is questionable to play against Milwaukee. Rookie center Greg Monroe had 20 points and 10 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double and 19th of the season. Monroe has been of Detroit’s few bright spots this season. He is averaging 9.3 points and a team-leading 7.4 rebounds.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (32-46): Milwaukee is completing a three-game road trip that began with a split in Florida – the Bucks lost 78-72 to the Orlando Magic one night before the impressive upset of Miami. John Salmons scored 17 points against Miami but had to leave with a gash on his head that required 12 stitches. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute added 14 points and 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. Former All-Star Michael Redd could land more minutes now that the Bucks are eliminated. Redd has played sparingly in the last six games in his first action since a serious knee injury that sidelined him for 14 months. He is averaging 2.5 points.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Bucks forward Drew Gooden is averaging 13.8 points over the last five games. Monroe is averaging 21 points and 12 rebounds over the last two games. Milwaukee guard Brandon Jennings is averaging just 10 points and shooting 27.3 percent over the past three outings. Detroit guard Ben Gordon has gone nine straight games without reaching double digits in scoring, averaging just 4.3 points during that stretch.
KEY STATISTIC: Detroit is allowing 105.8 points over its last five games, well above its season average of 100.5. Milwaukee is averaging a league-low 91.3 points and has reached 100 points just once in its last seven games.
SEASON SERIES: Detroit has won two of the three meetings, a 103-89 home victory on Nov. 26 and an 89-78 road win on Feb. 5. The Bucks notched a 92-90 home win on March 1.
KEY INJURIES: MILWAUKEE: G John Salmons (head); F Jon Brockman (shoulder); F Ersan Ilyasova (concussion). DETROIT: C Ben Wallace (knee); G Will Bynum (calf); G Terrico White (foot).
LAST WORD: “It was a situation that was already taken care of. I just let my emotions get in the way. I’m still a young player. I’m really passionate about this game and I just let me emotions get in the way. I got punished and it’s over.” – Detroit guard Rodney Stuckey on a recent two-game benching tied to his latest clash with coach John Kuester.