Wizards at Pistons
The NBA lockout came one year too late for the Washington Wizards. An 0-12 start basically gutted the season for the Wizards, but they have turned things around in a big way and will carry a four-game winning streak into Wednesday's road game against the Detroit Pistons. Washington accomplished a first in Monday's 102-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, halting a string of 14 consecutive road losses to Eastern Conference opponents. Still, the Wizards own the league's worst record away from home at 4-21.
The Pistons also won at Milwaukee on Saturday but their modest two-game win streak came to a crashing halt with a 105-86 drubbing at home by the New Orleans Hornets on Monday. Detroit is 2-2 on its current six-game homestand and trying to stay within striking distance of eighth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons have dominated the series against the Wizards, winning four straight matchups and 12 of the last 14.
TV: 7:30 ET, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (Washington), Fox Sports Detroit
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (15-35): Much of Washington's resurgence has come since point guard John Wall, the former No. 1 overall pick, returned to the lineup in mid-January. Washington is 10-7 with Wall, who has averaged 16.8 points in his last five games and registered his third double-double in Monday's win. Rookie guard Bradley Beal had missed five games with a right wrist injury but came off the bench to score a career-high 28 points against the Bucks. "I felt good, my wrist is feeling a lot better," Beal said.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (20-33): Detroit has gone through a roster overhaul after sending forwards Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye to Memphis as part of a three-team deal that brought point guard Jose Calderon from Toronto. In addition, rookie reserve center Andre Drummond is out at least a month with a stress fracture in his back. One constant throughout the shuffling has been the play of big man Greg Monroe, who register his seventh straight double-double with 17 points and 11 boards against the Hornets.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pistons have won 42 of the past 51 meetings in Detroit, including a 100-68 drubbing on Dec. 21.
2. The Wizards have held nine straight opponents to 96 points or fewer.
3. Monroe has averaged 18.7 and 12.6 rebounds in seven games this month.