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Bobcats, Pistons square off at The Palace

Feb 29, 2012 - 3:50 PM (Sports Network) - The hapless Charlotte Bobcats hope to get a little boost with the return of leading scorer Gerald Henderson as they visit the Detroit Pistons tonight.

Charlotte posted a dismal 4-28 mark in the first half and is in danger of threatening the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst winning percentage in NBA history unless things turn around.

The Sixers finished 9-73 that season, winning at a .110 pace. The Bobcats currently have a .125 winning percentage after entering the All-Star break with a 102-88 home loss to Indiana last Wednesday.

Corey Maggette paced Charlotte in that one with 20 points and D.J. Augustin netted 15. Rookie Kemba Walker chipped in 14 as the Bobcats lost for the 18th time in 19 games, and for the ninth straight time against the Pacers.

"We got shots but we didn't make them early on and they did," said Bobcats head coach Paul Silas. "We just have to take this upon ourselves to play tougher. Hopefully we will come with more effort and energy. We must because we can't continue to play like this."

Henderson, who is averaging 15.0 points per game, practiced Tuesday and could end his nine-game absence because of a strained right hamstring tonight.

The Pistons, meanwhile, opened the second half on a down note, getting routed by Philadelphia in Auburn Hills, 97-68, on Tuesday.

Greg Monroe had 20 points and eight rebounds to pace the Pistons, losers of three straight. Rodney Stuckey added 17 points for Detroit, which struggled to its worst shooting performance (31.6 percent) since Dec. 23, 2009. The Pistons also matched their worst scoring output of the season in the game.

"We just got off to a slow start, turned the ball over and it was a trickle down effect," said Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince. "The rest was history."

Detroit, which is 8-11 at The Palace this season, has won two straight over Charlotte, including a 98-81 win in the Queen City back on Jan. 13. Overall, the Pistons are 9-3 against the Bobcats in The Wolverine State.