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Pistons-Raptors Preview

Nov 4, 2009 - 5:14 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (1-2) at Toronto (1-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT

A week into the season, the Detroit Pistons are already trying their best to overcome injuries.

Likely short-handed again, the visiting Pistons try for a second consecutive victory and fifth straight over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.

With Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince both sidelined, Ben Gordon scored 23 points while Rodney Stuckey and reserve Will Bynum each added 20 as Detroit (2-2) avoided a third straight loss with an 85-80 home win over Orlando on Tuesday.

The victory was the Pistons' first in three games without Hamilton, who scored 25 points in a 96-74 season-opening win over Memphis and could miss this contest with an ankle injury.

Prince, who totaled 37 points in the first three games, will miss at least two more with a back injury. By sitting out Tuesday's contest, Prince's consecutive-games streak ended at 496. It was the second-longest active streak behind Andre Miller's, and Prince's run of 439 straight starts was the longest in the league.

Hamilton and Prince had never missed the same game in their seven-plus seasons as teammates.

Though Detroit shot 37.5 percent - including 0 for 6 from 3-point range - and failed to top 85 points for a third straight contest Tuesday, it gained confidence by playing well enough to win without a pair of key performers.

"A victory like this is sweet - there's no question about it," rookie Pistons coach John Kuester said. "You always miss guys who play such an intricate part of what you do, but it is great to see other guys step up."

The Pistons held Orlando to 36.7 percent shooting and benefited from a poor night by Magic star Dwight Howard, who was held to eight points and five rebounds in 16 minutes before fouling out.

Gordon is averaging 24.0 points in his first season with the Pistons. Chicago's leading scorer the past four seasons, Gordon has scored 60 points in his last two games against the Raptors.

The Pistons have won seven of the last eight against the Raptors and consecutive games in Toronto. The Raptors last beat Detroit 89-82 at home on March 26, 2008.

The Raptors (1-2) look to avoid a third straight loss after falling 125-116 to Orlando on Sunday.

Chris Bosh scored 35 points and added 16 rebounds for Toronto, which despite shooting 54.1 percent couldn't prevent the Magic from making 17 3-pointers - the most ever by a Toronto opponent.

Andrea Bargnani added 26 points and Hedo Turkoglu had 19 against his former team, but Toronto trailed by as many 22 points against the reigning Eastern Conference champions.

"We have to learn from these games, especially being a young team," Turkoglu told the Raptors' official Web site.

Though the Raptors are allowing 110.3 points per game, they're playing well on the offensive end thanks to Bosh, who's averaging 31.0 points per contest.

Also pulling down 14.7 boards per game, Bosh is averaging 23.1 points and 10.1 rebounds in his last seven contests versus Detroit.

Turkoglu is averaging 15.0 points and shooting 50.0 percent in his first three games with Toronto, but he's been held to 12.7 points and 42.0 percent shooting in 22 career contests against the Pistons.