Pistons at Pelicans
Both the Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Pelicans look to halt two-game losing skids when the teams get together in the Big Easy on Wednesday. Detroit may be the more desperate squad, with the momentum of a four-game win streak all but gone after being defeated handily in consecutive outings against Miami and Minnesota. Center Andre Drummond, who had averaged 18.4 points and 16.8 rebounds in his previous five games was held to eight points and eight boards Tuesday as the Pistons fell 121-94.
The Pelicans had managed to string together three straight wins as part of a larger span of six wins in eight games before slip-ups at home against Dallas and Oklahoma City last week. Injuries have struck New Orleans hard of late, with Anthony Davis (hand), Tyreke Evans (ankle) and Greg Stiemsma (knee) all out of the lineup. The losses of Davis and Evans are especially significant for the Pelicans, with the duo combining for an average of 30.6 points and 14.6 rebounds.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE PISTONS (10-12): Detroit has also been hit with some injury troubles, as leading reserve Rodney Stuckey has missed two straight with knee trouble and Will Bynum (groin) is still at least a week away from returning. With their backcourt diminished in the absence of Stuckey and Bynum, the Pistons will lean more heavily on leading scorer Brandon Jennings, who averages 17.2 points, and rookie Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who ranks among the league's top 10 first-year players in several categories. Drummond's 12.7 rebounds per game are good for a spot in the NBA's top five.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (9-10): Ryan Anderson leads New Orleans' offense, averaging 21.7 points off the bench, but of late, Jrue Holiday has stirred the drink for the Pelicans. Acquired from Philadelphia at the draft in the offseason, Holiday has shot 50 percent from the field in his last five games, while averaging 18.4 points, 9.8 assists and 6.4 rebounds in the same span. Holiday, who averages 15.2 points overall, is New Orleans' top ball distributor, dishing out 7.9 assists per game to rank in the league's top 10.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. New Orleans, playing then as the Hornets, took both games against Detroit last season and has won four straight on home court in the series.
2. The Pistons lead the NBA in points in the paint, averaging 50.6, thanks to the likes of Drummond and Fs Greg Monroe and Josh Smith.
3. The Pelicans have allowed seven of its last eight opponents to score 100 points or more.