Game Preview: Detroit Pistons vs. New Orleans Hornets

Essentials

Date: Jan. 15, 2010

Time: 8 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 12-25

New Orleans: 20-17

Probable starters

Detroit:

New Orleans:

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +2

Over/under: 192

Score: New Orleans wins, 97-95

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 103.6 (24th)

Detroit defensive rating: 109.7 (23rd)

Detroit pace: 88.3 (29th)

New Orleans offensive rating: 106.7 (16th)

New Orleans defensive rating: 108.3 (20th)

New Orleans pace: 91.8 (20th)

Score: New Orleans wins, 97-95

Outlook

After the team’s first win in a month (seriously, look at a calendar … I’ll wait … ), Detroit finally has a chance to get a different kind of streak going. But it won’t be easy. The last time the Pistons played New Orleans, they unraveled down the stretch, blowing a 13-point half-time lead. Though it was on the road, they lost to a sub-.500 Hornets team still trying to find its identity only a month after coach Byron Scott’s firing.

Fast forward to today. The Hornets have won seven of their last eight, and the Pistons, well, their recent struggles have been well documented on this site. The good news though, is that New Orleans has had some minor troubles of their own. They’re 5-14 on the road this year and are in the middle of playing five of eight games away from home.

The Pistons, meanwhile, have eight of their next nine contests at The Palace, with their lone trip to visit the less-than-stellar New York Knicks. After resting for a couple of days, they have a chance to rebound in a big way during this home stand and prove that they can be a playoff team. A win tonight would give them a great start to doing just that.

• As always, you can check out Daily Dime Live to chat during tonight’s game.
• The Friday Trade Idea will be delayed until early next week

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