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(Sports Network) - Two Eastern Conference teams playing out the string get together tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills, where the host Detroit Pistons take on the New Jersey Nets.
Detroit has lost four in a row and seven of eight games, including Tuesday's 107-105 loss in Washington. Rookie Greg Monroe chipped in 22 points and 14 rebounds, but missed two free throws with 10.2 seconds to go in the game.
"It's nobody's fault but mine. I have to make free throws in clutch situations," said Monroe. Tayshaun Prince, Will Bynum, Tracy McGrady and Austin Daye scored 14 points apiece for the Pistons, who shot 43.9 percent for the game and committed 16 turnovers for 24 Wizards points. The Pistons will also welcome Milwaukee to The Palace and are 19-19 as the host this season. On the injury front, guard Ben Gordon (knee) is questionable, guard Rodney Stuckey (disciplinary) is doubtful and forward Charlie Villanueva (back) is questionable for Wednesday. New Jersey put the brakes on a six-game losing streak with Tuesday's 107-105 triumph versus Minnesota thanks to Deron Williams' go-ahead jumper with 1.7 seconds remaining. Williams scored 18 points and matched a career high with 21 assists for the Nets, who led by double digits for most of the game. Williams, however, will miss Wednesday's game with a strained tendon in his right wrist. Head coach Avery Johnson said the All-Star guard will see a specialist about his ailing wrist, which has been an issue since January. "Even on a night like tonight, his wrist was just getting fatigued and fatigued the whole game, and he still pulled one out of his hat," Johnson said. Brook Lopez added 30 points and 12 rebounds in a winning effort. The Nets will now try to stop a four-game road losing streak Wednesday and are just 5-33 as the visitor this season. Nets forward Kris Humphries (ankle/heel) and guard Anthony Morrow (knee) are both listed as doubtful for tonight. New Jersey leads the 2010-11 series with Detroit by a 2-1 margin but has lost 12 of the previous 17 encounters between the teams. The Nets are winless in eight consecutive trips to The Palace.
Pistons 116, Nets 109: Brook Lopez Scores Career High, Ignored Late
The good news for the New Jersey Nets easily scored more than 100 points without point guard Deron Williams behind a career-high 39 from center Brook Lopez. The bad news is that they ignored Lopez in the final quarter, helping to leave the door open for the Detroit Pistons to drive by the visiting team 116-109 Wednesday night.
After Lopez dropped points 38 and 39 with 9:49 remaining in the game, he went four minutes without even attempting another shot and that was a missed jumper. The center failed to shoot the ball again until the final minute when the game was well in hand. The usually mild-mannered Lopez left the locker room before the media was allowed in after the game.
Jordan Farmar, starting in place of Williams, scored 18 and handed out a game-high 11 assists. Sasha Vujacic chipped in 16 points while Travis Outlaw added 11 off the bench.
Rip Hamilton led the Pistons with 25 points to go with 9 assists while Rodney Stuckey scored 14 of his 22 points in the final quarter. Rookie Greg Monroe had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
With Kris Humphries still sidelined with heel and ankle injuries, the Nets were once again beaten on the glass, this time 42-30.
New Jersey has now dropped 13 of their last 18 games against Detroit and 12 of 14 overall. They will return home Friday night to kick off their final four games of the season when the playoff-bound New York Knicks visit the Prudential Center.
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Apr 07 6:24a by Ryan Jones