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Billups again will sit out when Pistons visit Hawks

Jan 12, 2007 - 2:46 PM Detroit (20-13) at Atlanta (10-23) 7:30 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) - It looks as if the Detroit Pistons will have to play at least one more game without their second-leading scorer.

Chauncey Billups again will be sidelined with a strained right calf as the Pistons look for their third win in eight outings with Friday's meeting against the Atlanta Hawks.

The 2004 Finals Most Valuable Player, Billups averages 18.0 points and 8.1 assists. However, the Pistons have dropped three of the five games he has missed since he was hurt.

The Pistons are coming off Wednesday's 103-96 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Richard Hamilton scored 23 points, Tayshaun Price added 19 and Ronald Murray 18 for Detroit.

Ranked 29th in points (92.3), Atlanta is averaging just 79.1 in its last eight contests and has dropped 10 of its last 11 games.

The Hawks are coming off Wednesday's 96-77 loss to the New Orleans Hornets. Josh Childress scored 19 points and Joe Johnson added 13 for Atlanta, which scored just 34 second-half points and shot 33 percent (30-of-90) from the floor.

Detroit is looking to complete a three-game season series sweep of Atlanta. Billups scored 24 points for the Pistons in a 108-81 triumph over the Hawks on December 23.