Pistons at Pelicans
Teams headed in opposite directions in regards to the postseason meet Wednesday when the New Orleans Pelicans host the Detroit Pistons. The Pelicans, despite playing without All-Star Anthony Davis (shoulder), have won five of their last six games and are one game behind injury-riddled Oklahoma City for the eighth spot in the West. The Pistons have lost three in a row, including at home to lowly New York, and now play seven games in the next 11 days with six being on the road.
New Orleans, seeking its first playoff appearance since 2011, is coming off a 102-93 loss at Dallas on Monday, but starting with the Detroit game, the club plays five of its next seven at home with Memphis and Milwaukee being the only teams above .500. “We are definitely looking forward to going home," guard Eric Gordon told reporters of the Pelicans, who are 20-10 on their own floor. "We are a good home team and it’s going to be good to play at home for sure.” On the other hand, Detroit, which is looking up at five teams for the last two berths in the Eastern Conference playoffs, is playing its second road game in a stretch of seven of eight away from The Palace at Auburn Hills that includes upcoming games against Houston, Golden State and Portland.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE PISTONS (23-36): Detroit has been off since a 99-95 loss at Washington on Saturday in which it fought back from a 21-point deficit after yielding 37 points on 66.7 percent shooting in the first quarter. "We play the scoreboard. We play the standings. If we're underdogs and
desperate, we play great," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters.
"I don't know if its pressure when we're ahead and we can't handle it or
what, but we don't play the same way when we are in front. That's got
to change." Greg Monroe had 21 points and 10 rebounds and rookie Spencer Dinwiddie added 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting and eight assists off the bench. Detroit is 6-9 since point guard Brandon Jennings went down for the season with an Achilles injury.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (32-28): Norris Cole scored 19 points and Gordon added 18 as New Orleans had its season-high five-game win streak snapped at Dallas, one night after winning in Denver. "I’ve got no complaints about our team tonight. The guys competed their tails off," Pelicans coach Monty Williams told reporters. "We just came off the toughest back-to-back in the league – any time you go to Denver, or leave Denver and have a back-to-back, you’re dealing with a lot." Cole has scored in double figures in five of his first six games since being acquired from Miami and center Alexis Ajinca is averaging 14.6 points on 69.8 percent shooting and 7.8 rebounds in just 23 minutes over his last five games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. New Orleans has won five straight in the series, including a 105-94 home triumph on Jan. 14 in which Davis and F Ryan Anderson combined for 44 points.
2. The Pistons have eight games remaining against the five teams they are competing against for a playoff spot, including three with the Charlotte Hornets.
3. Pistons PG Reggie Jackson has scored 25 points on 9-of-36 shooting in his last two games with 12 assists and six turnovers after scoring 39 points and handing out 14 assists in his first two games with the club.