Pistons at Cavaliers
The Detroit Pistons helped the Cleveland Cavaliers keep their slim playoff hopes alive Tuesday, but they can dash them with a win in Cleveland on Wednesday. The Cavaliers are on the brink of elimination, trailing eighth-place Atlanta by 3 1/2 games with four contests remaining. They would have been knocked out if the Hawks had won Tuesday, but the Pistons prevailed 102-95 to snap a streak of 10 straight losses at Atlanta.
Cleveland's dwindling playoff chances took a big hit last week, when the Cavaliers lost at Atlanta on Friday and fell in overtime to Charlotte on Saturday. "These were the biggest games that a lot of guys on our team have played in during their NBA career," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown told reporters. "And as a group, we didn't respond well to it." The Pistons have won back-to-back games for the first time since a three-game winning streak from Feb. 7-10.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, FSN Ohio (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (29-49): Detroit played to its strengths against the Hawks and dominated inside with Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe both notching double-doubles. Perhaps most impressively, they did it without Josh Smith, who missed his first game of the season with patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Guard Rodney Stuckey made just his second start of the season in place of Smith and gave the Pistons a big lift with 29 points, including six straight free throws down the stretch.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (31-47): Cleveland experienced a familiar script against the Bobcats, as Kyrie Irving put up a career-high 44 points but the team fell short in overtime. Dion Waiters is averaging 21.7 points in 11 games since moving back into the starting lineup, and he has topped 20 points in seven of the last 10 contests. The Cavs are expected to be without reserve guard C.J. Miles (ankle) and rookies Anthony Bennett (knee) and Carrick Felix (knee).
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pistons have won four straight meetings in Cleveland, including a 115-92 victory Dec. 23.
2. Brown needs one win to tie Bill Fitch (304) for the second-most wins in Cavaliers history behind Lenny Wilkins (316).
3. Cleveland has allowed fewer than 45 points in the paint in 17 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA. Detroit leads the league with 52 points in the paint per game.