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Pistons-Bulls Preview

Jan 10, 2010 - 6:34 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Detroit (11-24) at Chicago (15-20), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Bulls have experienced their share of struggles this season, but it's nothing compared with what the Detroit Pistons have endured over the past month.

The Pistons will try to avoid matching their longest losing streak in 17 seasons Monday night by earning their first road win over the Bulls in nearly four years.

During its up-and-down season, Chicago (15-20) has dealt with rumors of coach Vinny Del Negro's imminent firing, but the Bulls have earned wins since that speculation began. Detroit, meanwhile, has dropped 12 in a row, its longest skid since 13 straight losses to end the 1993-94 season.

The Pistons (11-24) have had troubles staying healthy, and only four players have appeared in all 12 games during their skid. One of those four, leading scorer Rodney Stuckey, sat out the second half of Saturday night's 104-94 loss to visiting Philadelphia because of a sore right knee.

Stuckey, averaging a career-best 18.4 points, is a game-time decision on Monday.

Tayshaun Prince, who missed 26 games with a back injury, also sat out the final two quarters with a sore left knee. Ben Gordon, who scored the 10 millionth point in NBA history in the first half Saturday, also injured his right thigh late in the game. The statuses of both players are also unknown.

Even the presence of those players in the first half couldn't help the team's stagnant offense. The Pistons scored 10 points in the opening quarter and trailed by 26 at halftime before cutting its deficit into single digits with less than three minutes remaining.

"It's very discouraging that we had no sense of urgency - none - in the first half," forward Charlie Villanueva said. "We played with some fight in the second half, but it was too late."

Detroit has averaged 87.5 points and hasn't topped 98 in any game during its slide. The Pistons have also shot 25.3 percent from 3-point range and 41.4 percent overall in those 12 games.

"It's just like we don't have a rhythm. Guys are not getting shots where they're supposed to get them," Gordon said. "On the other hand, when your offense doesn't work, you got to stop the other team. If we get stops, they can't score. That's not how we played."

In their last five losses, the Pistons have given up 103.0 points per game on 51.6 percent shooting, and their past two opponents have each topped 57.0 percent.

They'll face an improving Bulls team that had a season-best scoring performance Saturday night while snapping a three-game skid. In a 110-96 home win over Minnesota, Joakim Noah and Kirk Hinrich scored 20 points apiece, five players finished in double figures and eight had at least eight points.

"We've been through a tough little stretch as a team and it's good to play well and to play with good energy tonight," Noah said. "If we can play with some level of consistency, that would really help us."

The Bulls, who have won six of eight at home, have been consistent against the Pistons in the past couple of years, especially at the United Center.

Chicago has won five straight overall over Detroit - including two victories in December - and seven in a row at home since a 95-87 loss Feb. 24, 2006.