AUBURN HILLS, Mich, April 3 (Ticker) -- The Detroit Pistons are on the way to their first Central Division title in 12 years. However, they have a long way to go before they can challenge the best in the Western Conference.

The Pistons never led as they absorbed a 107-86 thrashing from the Sacramento Kings, who got 28 points from Detroit native Chris Webber and set or tied a handful of franchise records.

Detroit (45-30) has made a terrific turnaround this season, going from 50 losses to a chance at 50 wins. But the Pistons have struggled against the West's best, and this one was no exception.

Coming in 1-5 against the West's top four teams, the Pistons dug themselves a 20-point hole in less than a quarter and got no closer than 17 points thereafter, failing to show any of the toughness they have made their trademark.

NBA TV highlights from Kings-Pistons: 56k | 300k Bobby Jackson missed eight of 10 shots, but the Kings still won. Gregory Shamus NBAE/Getty Images

"We needed to have our `A' game tonight and we just didn't have it," Pistons coach Rick Carlisle said. "They are really good, so it added up to a humbling experience out there. We just have to get ready for Friday."

"I don't know how much of it had anything to do with us,"

Pistons guard Jerry Stackhouse added. "It was just them. It was almost like they were playing street basketball. And they were having fun doing it. That's what makes them so good."

Mike Bibby and Vlade Divac scored 15 points apiece for the Kings (55-19), who opened a 2 1/2-game lead for the best record in the NBA with their franchise-record sixth straight road win.

They also tied club records set last year for wins and road wins (22).

"Obviously, that's about as good as it gets for us," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "We really played well. The first quarter offensively, we were really good. It was a big win for us."

Webber made 12-of-16 shots and added eight assists and seven rebounds. In his his first visit to Detroit since snubbing the Pistons during his free agency last summer, he heard some boos from the crowd at The Palace of Auburn Hills and took it out on the home team.

"I wanted to kiss the Pistons, but I thought my people in Sacramento might misunderstand it," Webber said. "It wasn't easy, but it was fun. This is my home and Detroiters are known for strong backbones and doing their thing. (Pistons guard) Jon Barry told me before the game that `I wish they hadn't got you upset.' He's been with me for three years. I had some extra incentives to play for. The worst thing you can do is wake a sleeping giant. Not that I'm all that great, but when my back is against the wall, I come out fighting."

"He's always more focused when he plays here because this is his hometown," Barry said. "And with all the commotion, it probably pumped him up even more. He had a tremendous game."

Hedo Turkoglu scored 13 points and Doug Christie added 11 and seven assists for the Kings, who again played without injured All-Star forward Peja Stojakovic and did not miss him one bit.

Sacramento shot 55 percent (43-of-78) as it did not trail for the ninth time this season.

Corliss Williamson scored 13 points and Stackhouse and Ben Wallace added 12 apiece for the Pistons, who shot 42.5 percent (31-of-73) and committed 20 turnovers. The Pistons fell three games behind New Jersey in the race for the East's best record.

Sacramento has won the last seven meetings with Detroit.

A 3-pointer by Chucky Atkins pulled the Pistons within 10-7 just over three minutes into the game before the Kings went on a 25-6 burst. Christie scored seven points in the run and Bibby capped it at 35-13 with a jumper at the 1:01 mark.

"They're a great offensive team and they got off to a great start," Barry said. "We were pretty much never in the game. It's tough to come back against any team when you're down double figures in the first quarter. But against what's probably the best team in basketball, it's too much to ask."

Sacramento led 62-43 at halftime and by as many as 29 points in the third quarter.

"The start, the middle and the end -- none of it worked out how we wanted," Stackhouse said.