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Pistons-Bucks Preview

Feb 8, 2010 - 6:35 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (17-32) at Milwaukee (23-26), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Milwaukee Bucks have climbed back into playoff contention. They're looking to take advantage of a favorable two games before the All-Star break against two of the NBA's worst teams.

The Bucks can record their first eight-game home win streak in six seasons Tuesday night when they meet the Detroit Pistons.

Milwaukee (23-26) has won five of six to move within percentage points of Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks, who have finished last in the Central Division the previous three seasons, are also one game behind Chicago and Charlotte.

Finishing strong the next two games would aid the Bucks' push, and the competition isn't daunting. After hosting Detroit (17-32), Milwaukee plays at 4-46 New Jersey on Wednesday.

"We have a couple more coming up, we have Detroit, which I think we can beat at home and we have New Jersey," Bucks center Andrew Bogut said. "If we can finish before the All-Star break with a winning note, it's going to be great for our confidence coming into the following weeks."

Bogut had 21 points and eight rebounds in Saturday's 93-81 home win over Indiana. He was forced to leave Friday's 114-107 win at New York due to a migraine headache, which he said he was still feeling the effects of against the Pacers.

With rookie leading scorer Brandon Jennings struggling to make 2 of 10 shots for five points, the Bucks had other players step up. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored a season-high 18 and Carlos Delfino added 16.

Jennings has failed to score in double digits three times in the last four games after scoring fewer than 10 five times in his first 45 games.

The Bucks have not won eight straight at home since a 10-game run Dec. 10, 2003-Jan. 15, 2004.

The Pistons, meanwhile, have won two of their last eight games - both against the lowly Nets. Swedish rookie Jonas Jerebko made all nine shots for 20 points to lead the way in a 99-92 win at New Jersey on Saturday.

"I just felt good tonight," Jerebko said. "The first 3-pointer went down, and after that, I just kept going. You have to love these games."

Detroit has sandwiched wins over New Jersey around a 107-83 home loss to Indiana on Friday.

"I wish I knew the answer," coach John Kuester said. "After we beat New Jersey, I was so looking forward to the Indiana game, but we didn't play with the intensity we did tonight. We know that we play hard and share the basketball, we give ourselves a chance."

Kuester appears to finally have a healthy roster after Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon and Richard Hamilton all missed plenty of action this season. Former Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva, though, has missed two of the last four games with back spasms that have limited his minutes in the other two.

These teams have split two meetings this season. Milwaukee won 96-85 in its home opener Oct. 31 as Jennings scored 24 while Detroit won 105-96 at home on Dec. 4 by placing six players in double figures.