Wizards-Pistons Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Apr 04 2012 11:34PM

Despite missing some key players, the Detroit Pistons are in the midst one of their best stretches of an otherwise difficult season.

They'll look to keep rolling against the same team they beat in thrilling fashion to begin their hot streak.

Detroit seeks its fifth win in six games Thursday night when it hosts the struggling Washington Wizards.

Rodney Stuckey hit a 20-foot jumper with 0.2 seconds remaining to give the Pistons a 79-77 win at Washington on March 26, capping a rally from a 13-point deficit.

Stuckey hurt his left hamstring two nights later in a win over Cleveland and has missed the last three games. He didn't practice Wednesday, but hasn't yet been ruled out for Thursday.

Ben Gordon also missed three games with a groin injury, but he returned Tuesday and scored 18 points to help Detroit (20-33) beat Orlando 102-95 at home.

Greg Monroe scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the Magic, as the Pistons continue to make late-season strides after a 4-20 start.

"We've come together as a team," coach Lawrence Frank told the team's official website. "Every night, you expect to have a chance to win the game, where in December, January, you had no clue. You had no idea what was going to happen. (Now) you go in expecting to win, disappointed and surprised when you don't."

Ben Wallace, who became the 21st player to reach 7,000 defensive rebounds since the league began recording the statistic in 1973-74, said Frank's message has resonated.

"He's selling the dream that if we go out and play hard every night, we'll give ourselves a chance to win and that's all anybody wants is a chance to win," Wallace said. "Nobody can make a promise we're going to go out and win every night, but if you go out and play hard you give yourself a chance."

Monroe led all scorers with 27 points versus Washington on Feb. 12 in Detroit, though the Wizards won 98-77. That victory marked the first of two straight wins - the only time this season they've won back-to-back games.

Washington (12-42) fell 109-96 to Indiana on Wednesday for its third consecutive defeat and eighth in nine games. Detroit native Jordan Crawford scored a game-high 28 points.

The Wizards played their third straight game without both Nene and Trevor Booker, both suffering from plantar fasciitis in the left foot. Kevin Seraphin helped fill the void down low with a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. John Wall added 13 points for the Wizards, who will be playing their fourth game in five nights Thursday.

"In the third and fourth quarter, fatigue wore us down and they took the game away," Wall said.

The Pistons have won seven of their last eight visits to Detroit and nine of their last 11 overall matchups with the Pistons.

Stuckey, Wallace lead Pistons past Wizards

Posted Apr 05 2012 11:38PM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Ben Wallace is supposed to be in the last weeks of his career. His Detroit Pistons teammates are still hoping he changes his mind.

The 37-year-old Wallace, who has announced he plans to retire at the end of the season, played the final 18 minutes of Thursday's game and made five key free throws down the stretch, helping the Pistons beat the Washington Wizards 99-94.

"I don't want him to do it, I keep telling him that he can play two or three more years," Will Bynum said. "The way he works? He's the first one in the gym every day and the last one out of the gym every day. He looks like he's 30, not 37."

Wallace came into the game midway through the third quarter while the Pistons were having trouble keeping John Wall away from the basket. The strategy worked, as Wall only had four of his 28 points in the fourth.

"(Wallace) was phenomenal tonight," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. "I respect him, so I respect his decision, but that man is a true testament to professionalism and hard work. I hope our players soak up some of his lessons before he's gone."

The Wizards rallied in the fourth quarter, and started intentionally fouling Wallace to try to finish their comeback. He had missed his first four free throws and was shooting 26 percent for the season, but hit five of six shots from the line in a 16-second span.

"I never seem to make them until teams make me make them," Wallace said with a grin. "When teams do that, I see it as a challenge and I have to step up."

Monroe led the Pistons with 18 points in 21 minutes, while Rodney Stuckey scored 15.

The Wizards were missing Nene and Trevor Booker with foot injuries, but rallied from a 20-point deficit to pull within five late in the game. Wall also finished with 10 assists, while Kevin Seraphin had 15 points before fouling out.

"We were down two big men as it was, so Kevin was our only legitimate center, and then we lose him," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "We lost our physicality on defense, and we lost any ability to get points out of the post."

Detroit could have put the game away in the first half, but missed 11 of 24 free throws to let Washington stay close, 51-40. Monroe took advantage of the Wizards' issues inside to put up 13 points and six rebounds in the half, but Wall outscored Brandon Knight 11-0 in the matchup of former Kentucky point guards.

"John Wall got into the paint 28 times, and that was a huge percentage of their scoring," Frank said. "Our second unit really stepped up and kept him out of there, and that turned out to be the difference in the game."

The Wizards tried to rally in the third quarter, but missed several layups.

"Both our veterans weren't here, and we had some lapses," Wall said. "We didn't play with enough energy in the first half, but we kept the game reasonable and we fought back. Being short-handed isn't an excuse. Everyone has injuries."

Stuckey, returning from a hamstring injury, scored seven points late in the period to give Detroit a 76-64 lead going into the fourth.

"Coach did a great job of getting me the time that I needed," said Stuckey, who fouled out after playing 19 minutes. "I'm not 100 percent, but I'm working my way back into it. I just played my game without thinking about the hamstring. If I retweak it, I do, but I can't let it stop me from playing."

Detroit led by as many as 20 in the fourth, but three Washington 3-pointers made it 87-77 with 6:50 to play. It was 94-86 with 2:18 left when the Wizards started to foul Wallace, but that plan didn't work.

NOTES: Wallace played 27:13 without attempting a field goal - the sixth time in his career he has played at least 25 minutes without taking a shot. The only active players with more are Joel Anthony (8) and Jason Collins (7). ... The Wizards missed 17 shots in the paint, shooting just 53 percent inside, while Detroit shot 64 percent from close range.

Notebook: Pistons 99, Wizards 94

Posted Thursday April 5, 2012 11:18PM

By Dana Gauruder, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Center Greg Monroe had 18 points and guard Rodney Stuckey scored 15 off the bench as the Detroit Pistons won their third straight by defeating the Washington Wizards, 99-94, Thursday at The Palace. Forward Jason Maxiell added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds as the Pistons won for the fifth time in six games while leading virtually throughout the game. Guard John Wall had 28 points and 10 assists for the Wizards, who lost their fourth straight and ninth in the last 10 games.

QUOTABLE: "The beginning of the season seems like it was two years ago. It's been a rough season but it's the same for everybody and we're just showing that we're getting better and better."
-- Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko on his team's 17-13 record since a 4-20 start.

THE STAT: 52.6. Opponents are shooting 52.6 percent against the Wizards during their current losing streak, which coincides with plantar fasciitis injuries to starting center Nene and power forward Trevor Booker. The Pistons, who entered the game ranked No. 25 in offensive field-goal percentage, shot 36-for-68 from the field. Monroe and Stuckey shot a combined 13-for-17.

TURNING POINT: The Pistons' second unit stretched a 70-64 lead late in the third quarter to 86-66 with 9:19 remaining. Stuckey, who missed the previous three games with a sore left hamstring, had nine points and an assist during the 16-2 run and capped it with a three-point play. Washington missed six shots and made four turnovers during that stretch, including one possession where Pistons reserve center Ben Wallace blocked a Wall layup attempt and then took a charge against Wall.

QUOTABLE II: "I usually don't make them until they make me make them. Tonight after the game, I got a text from my wife saying that she really hates when teams go to that Hack-A-Ben or Bump-A-Ben. But she's very proud of the fact I can go up there and knock those shots down. As a player, you've got to accept the challenge and knock those shots down."
-- Wallace, a notoriously poor free throw shooter, on making five of six foul shots after the Wizards intentionally fouled him late in the game.

HOT: Wall had his best offensive night since he scored 33 points against Orlando Feb. 29. He consistently drove into the lane off pick-and-rolls and transition while going 8-for-18 from the field and 12-for-15 from the free throw line. He was averaging just 12 points over the last eight games before his offensive resurgence Thursday.

NOT: Washington had just one lead, a 3-2 advantage after a Chris Singleton 3-pointer, but the Pistons allowed the visitors to hang around with poor free throw shooting. They missed 11 in the first half and finished 23-for-39 (59 percent) for the game. Wallace missed his first four before his clutch shooting in the late going while Maxiell and Damien Wilkins missed three apiece.

GOOD MOVE: Detroit head coach Lawrence Frank decided to stick with Wallace in place of Monroe for the final 18:10 and the 37-year-old provided the defensive presence Frank was seeking. Wallace had two steals and eight rebounds while guarding the pick-and-roll much more forcibly than Monroe.

BAD MOVE: The Wizards didn't establish Jordan Crawford in the early going and he disappeared. After scoring 51 points in the previous two games, Crawford had just nine on 2-for-13 shooting and also made three of Washington's 18 turnovers.

NOTABLE: Monroe scored 11 of his points in the first quarter. ... Tayshaun Prince chipped in 14 points for Detroit and is averaging 19 over his last six games. ... Wizards center Kevin Seraphin had 15 points and nine rebounds. ... The Pistons have won nine of their last 11 at home. ... The Wizards are 5-22 on the road.

UP NEXT: For the Wizards, Friday @ New Jersey, Monday @ Charlotte, Tuesday vs. Orlando. For the Pistons, Friday @ Atlanta, Sunday @ Miami, Monday @ Orlando.

• Wizards: Blatche, Lewis
• Pistons: Macklin

• Wizards: --
• Pistons: Maxiell

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
• Officials: #27 Dick Bavetta, #32 Eddie F. Rush, #66 Haywoode Workman
• Attendance: 12681
• Duration: 2:18