Pistons 79 - 77 Wizards
Final
  for this game

Skidding Pistons visit lowly Wizards

Mar 26, 2012 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of teams playing out the string get together tonight in the nation's capital, as the Detroit Pistons pay a visit to the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.

It's unlikely the Pistons will make the playoffs, being that they're 7 1/2 games off the eighth and final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference. They have lost five straight and six of seven games, and opened a four-game road trip with Saturday's 101-79 setback at New York.

Two games removed from a 45-point performance at Denver, Ben Gordon hit 4-of-8 three-point attempts en route to a game-high 20 points and Greg Monroe was the only other Piston in double figures with 12 points and five rebounds.

"They dominated the paint. They were plus-20 points in the paint, plus-24 in rebounding," Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank said. "They had 18 offensive rebounds, seven steals in the fourth quarter. It's frustrating. You have to give them credit, but they were definitely the aggressors in the paint, which hurts."

The Pistons are just 4-20 away from The Palace of Auburn Hills and will also visit the Cavaliers and Bulls on the road swing. They have lost four straight as the visitor. Detroit guards Will Bynum (illness) and Rodney Stuckey (toe) are questionable for Monday. Stuckey has missed the last three games and leads the team with 16.3 ppg.

Washington has lost three in a row and eight of 10 games, including Sunday's 88-76 setback at Boston.

Jordan Crawford led the way for Washington with 20 points and John Wall chipped in 12 to go with nine assists. Kevin Seraphin had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in place of the injured Nene, who missed the contest due to back spasms. Nene is questionable for Monday.

"There was no fight in the first five minutes of that game," said Wizards head coach Randy Wittman. "That was a lay-up drill with no defense. I don't know why it happened. We can't afford to give up starts like that."

The Wizards will try to stop a three-game slide as the host and are just 6-18 at the Verizon Center this season. They will close out a back-to-back-to-back set this evening.

Washington defeated Detroit, 98-77, on Feb. 12 this season at The Palace, but has still lost 10 of the previous 13 meetings between the teams. The Pistons are 12-5 in their past 17 visits to D.C.






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