Pistons 90 - 105 Jazz
Final
  for this game

Resurgent Pistons start tough stretch in Utah

Mar 12, 2012 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - The Jazz return home after a lengthy road trip to take on the resurgent Detroit Pistons.

Utah finished a five-game trek by losing two straight to finish 2-3, the most recent setback coming to Eastern Conference power Chicago on Saturday, 111-97.

Paul Millsap scored 26 points to lead the Jazz in that one while Al Jefferson added 16 points and eight rebounds. Josh Howard netted 15 points for Utah, which was without point guard Devin Harris (flu) and two guard Raja Bell, who is reportedly feuding with coach Tyrone Corbin.

The Bulls led by as many as 23 and won easily despite playing without Luol Deng (wrist), Richard Hamilton (shoulder), C.J. Watson (ankle) and Joakim Noah (illness).

"It didn't go like we wanted it to. Of course we wanted to win every game. That's kind of obvious," said Millsap of the road trip. "We fought in every game that we lost, so that's a plus."

Harris is expected to return to the lineup tonight while general manager Kevin O'Connor is expected to meet with Corbin and Bell before the game in an effort to iron things out.

"I want to sit down with Raja, and have a meeting with coach and Raja first," O'Connor told the Salt Lake Tribune.

The Pistons, meanwhile, have been playing much-improved basketball recently and just finished a perfect three-game homestand with a 105-86 blowout of the Raptors.

Six different Pistons scorers finished in double figures in that one, led by Rodney Stuckey's 20 points.

Brandon Knight added 19 points and seven assists, while Jonas Jerebko and Jason Maxiell netted 13 and 12, respectively. Greg Monroe added 11 points and Tayshaun Prince chipped in 10 to give Detroit its season-high fourth straight home victory.

"Our team is stepping up and we just focus and we continue to get better," said Stuckey after the game. "One day at a time, one practice, one game, we keep getting better as individuals, now we just need to get some wins on the road."

The Pistons started the season a dismal 4-20 but have rebounded to go 11-6 since and are a more than solid 9-3 in Auburn Hills since the beginning of February.

Detroit, however, will play nine of its next 10 games on the road where the club is just 3-15 on the season.

The Pistons have traditionally struggled in Salt Lake City, losing eight straight and 19 of 21.






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