Game Preview: Detroit Pistons vs. Houston Rockets

Essentials

Date: Dec. 12, 2009

Time: 8:30 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 11-12

Houston: 13-10

Probable starters

Detroit:

Houston:

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +5

Over/under: 189

Score: Houston wins, 97-92

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 106.2 (19th)

Detroit defensive rating: 107.2 (17th)

Detroit pace: 87.9 (29th)

Houston offensive rating: 107.1 (15th)

Houston defensive rating: 105.6 (13th)

Houston pace: 93.6 (9th)

Score: Detroit wins, 97-96

Outlook

The good news for Detroit: Trevor Ariza is suspended for tonight’s game after he connected with a forearm to Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan.

The bad news: Rick Adelman’s complaint about the Rockets’ schedule being too tough doesn’t apply to this game – at least not directly. Tonight’s game is the first of four sets of back-to-backs in the next four weeks. So, Houston still should be good to go tonight.

The questionable news: Ben Gordon and Will Bynum will be game-time decisions, according to The Detroit News’ Ted Kulfan.

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