The Orlando Magic have had no bigger nemesis in recent years than the Detroit Pistons, who have dominated them in the regular season and eliminated them in the past two postseasons.

If the Pistons keep playing the way they have lately, they won't be around to try to take the Magic out again.

Looking nothing like a playoff team over the past three weeks, Detroit will look to avoid a ninth straight loss for the first time in nearly 15 years Friday night when it visits Southeast Division-leading Orlando.

The Pistons (27-29) have won seven of their last nine regular-season games against the Magic, and eight of their nine postseason meetings, sweeping them in the first round in 2007 and winning in five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.

But as Orlando (42-15) has turned into the Southeast's powerhouse, Detroit's four-year reign as rulers of the Central Division is coming to an end. The Pistons have lost eight in a row and are clinging to the seventh spot in the East.

Detroit hasn't dropped nine in a row since a 13-game skid to end the 1993-94 season.

It finished its latest loss, 90-87 in New Orleans on Wednesday, without Allen Iverson or Rasheed Wallace. Iverson left with a back strain after playing only eight minutes, while Wallace was ejected with 7:55 left in the fourth quarter after picking up his second technical foul in 27 seconds.

"I tried to get him out before he got it," coach Michael Curry said. "He's an emotional guy. We got unraveled a little bit."

The second technical was Wallace's 16th this season, which would warrant a one-game suspension. The Pistons, though, were notified Thursday that two of his earlier technicals were rescinded, meaning he will be in the lineup in Orlando.

Iverson, meanwhile, will not play after he aggravated a back injury suffered in Tuesday's loss at Miami.

Rodney Stuckey will remain in the lineup. The second-year guard has started Detroit's past 37 games, including the last 16 in place of three-time All-Star Richard Hamilton, who will start in place of Iverson.

Stuckey, however, is averaging 5.4 points on 31.3 percent shooting over the last five games. Hamilton is second on the team behind Iverson at 17.0 points per game.

A sore groin kept Hamilton out of Detroit's first meeting with the Magic, an 88-82 home win on Dec. 29.

Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu combined for 32 points in that game, a total Turkoglu surpassed by himself in Orlando's latest game. The NBA's 2007-08 most improved player had a game-high 33 points on 11-of-17 shooting Wednesday as the Magic topped New York 114-109.

Howard, meanwhile, controlled the paint, finishing with 24 points and 21 rebounds, his sixth 20-20 game this season.

"I think (Turkoglu) was the key to the game for us offensively after the first quarter," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Dwight got us off to a great start."

Turkoglu was only hitting 32.6 percent of his 3-pointers through Orlando's first 36 games, but he's shooting 44.5 percent from beyond the arc since Jan. 9.

Rashard Lewis' shooting, though, has tailed off. After averaging 19.2 points and shooting 42.5 percent on his 3s through Feb. 1, his numbers have slipped to 14.4 points per game and 35.4 percent in his last 11 games.