Pistons at Bucks
After knocking off one of the NBA's best, the Detroit Pistons look to do the same to its worst in a visit to Milwaukee to face the Bucks on Wednesday. Detroit is shooting for its first three-game winning streak after knocking off the Heat in Miami to follow up a home win over Philadelphia. Andre Drummond has been a monster for the Pistons of late, scoring a career-high 31 points in Sunday's win over the 76ers and averaging 18.5 rebounds in his last two games.
Milwaukee snapped an 11-game skid with a home win over Boston on Saturday but couldn't roll that momentum over into the return engagement, falling to the Celtics 108-100 on the road Tuesday. The Bucks had a shot at their second straight, trimming Boston's lead to three points twice in the fourth quarter, but were unable to find the equalizer. Milwaukee's leading scorer, O.J. Mayo, averaged 20.5 points in the two-game set with the Celtics after being limited to just five in Charlotte on Friday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (8-10): Detroit outscored the Heat in the first three quarters on Tuesday and controlled the play throughout, save for a late Miami run that was thwarted down the stretch. The Pistons rely on balanced scoring and boast five players averaging double figures, led by Rodney Stuckey's 16.9. Drummond's dominance on the glass of late has pushed his season average to 12.5 rebounds - good for third in the NBA.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (3-14): Mayo leads Milwaukee, averaging 15.3 points, and is one of only three Bucks to appear in all 17 games this season as the team has been ravaged by injuries. Coach Larry Drew has been employing a zone defense more frequently of late, telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he feels it's the best fit for his club at the moment. "It allows you to play a defense that (doesn't necessarily put) you into a 1-on-1 situation," he said. "Does it stop them? No. But it allows you to somewhat dictate the rhythm or the pace of the game."
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Pistons have taken two straight and four out of the last five meetings against the Bucks, including a 113-94 triumph at home on Nov. 25.
2. Milwaukee SF Caron Butler has missed three straight games after experiencing swelling in his left knee during warmups Friday.
3. Detroit averages a league-best 51.7 points in the paint.