Only two teams have lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the past 10 weeks, and they'll square off Saturday when the Detroit Pistons host the Boston Celtics in a matchup of spiraling clubs. The Pistons allowed the 76ers to snap their record-tying 26-game skid a week ago and lost 116-104 at Brooklyn on Friday for their 10th loss in 12 games. The Celtics have been even worse, dropping their seventh straight contest with a 111-102 home loss to Philadelphia on Friday.
The Celtics have lost 12 of 13 overall and 11 straight on the road, and Friday's setback came in spite of point guard Rajon Rondo's first triple-double since Jan. 25, 2013. "We have everything to play for," Rondo told reporters. "We have pride as a team. We have Celtic pride. Right now we're not displaying it at all." Pride is about all the Pistons have left, as they'll be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with their next loss or one win by either Atlanta or New York.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CSN New England (Boston), FSN Detroit Plus
ABOUT THE CELTICS (23-53): Boston used just nine players against the 76ers and will have an even thinner bench against the Pistons. Rondo, one of the few bright spots in the loss to Philadelphia, continues to sit out one game of back-to-backs while recovering from ACL surgery, so he won't be available against Detroit. The Celtics also will be without guard Avery Bradley (Achilles) and forward Kris Humphries (knee).
ABOUT THE PISTONS (27-49): Detroit's strength is inside with the frontcourt trio of Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond and Josh Smith, but the Pistons' perimeter defense let them down against the Nets. "They shot 60 percent," interim coach John Loyer told reporters. "You're not going to win an NBA game when (your opponent) shoots 60 percent." Guard Will Bynum (foot) sat out against Brooklyn and is likely to be out against the Celtics, forcing rookie Peyton Siva into a larger role.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Drummond recorded his 51st double-double of the season Friday, second in the league behind Minnesota's Kevin Love (60).
2. The Pistons lead the league in points in the paint per game (52.1) while Boston allows an average of 44.2 points in the paint, eighth-most in the league.
3. The Celtics have lost five straight at Detroit dating to Nov. 2, 2010.