Final
Central cellar on the line when Pistons visit Cavs
Mar 28, 2012 - 2:55 PM (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to continue their dominance over the Detroit Pistons when the two Central Division foes collide tonight at Quicken Loans Arena.The Pistons are last in the division -- one game behind the Cavs -- and have lost the first two meetings between the teams this season. Detroit has lost four straight and 11 of the past 13 matchups between the teams. The Pistons have lost 10 of their previous 15 games at the Q.
Detroit had lost five straight and six of seven overall until recording a 79-77 win at Washington on Monday thanks to Rodney Stuckey's game-winning jump shot with 0.2 seconds to go in the game. Stuckey, who returned to action after a three-game absence due to a toe injury, scored 12 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. Tayshaun Prince added 18 points, while Greg Monroe scored 10 points to go with 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who are 1-1 on a four-game road trip and ended a four-game road losing streak.
"That's pretty much what happened," Stuckey said of the isolation play that sent Detroit back to the win column. "I just did a move, couldn't get to the basket so I stepped back and the shot went in."
The Pistons are just 5-20 away from home and will close out the trek in Chicago on Friday. Pistons guard Ben Gordon (groin) is questionable Wednesday.
Cleveland will open a brief two-game homestand Wednesday versus the Pistons and Bucks, and is just 9-15 as the host this season.
The Cavaliers are coming off last night's 103-85 loss at Philadelphia, as Anthony Parker scored a team-high 14 points, Alonzo Gee and Antawn Jamison tallied 13 points apiece and rookie Kyrie Irving added 12 points and seven assists for the Cavaliers, who have dropped four straight and seven of eight games.
"We just need to continue to work and believe in what we are doing," said Cleveland head coach Byron Scott. "Our biggest thing on the defensive end is a lack of communication. Guys are just not trusting one another right now and we just got to get back to it."
Cleveland is winless in three straight games as the host.
- DETROIT: 87
CLEVELAND: 75
Final
Mar 28 9:11 PM - DETROIT: 68
CLEVELAND: 61
End of 3rd
Mar 28 8:45 PM - 92
roots - 84
roots - DETROIT: 49
CLEVELAND: 44
Halftime
Mar 28 8:07 PM - DETROIT: 21
CLEVELAND: 23
End of 1st
Mar 28 7:34 PM - DETROIT: 0
CLEVELAND: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Mar 28 7:12 PM
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