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Thunder pay a visit to The Palace

Dec 7, 2014 - 1:53 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Pistons' losing streak has reached 11 games and they'll face a stern test in trying to stop it Sunday when the Oklahoma City Thunder stop by The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit hasn't won since a Nov. 14 road victory over these same Thunder, but Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook weren't in uniform for OKC. The Pistons haven't won in Motown since Nov. 7, a span of eight games.

The latest setback for the Pistons came Saturday night when the one-win Philadelphia 76ers escaped The Palace with a 108-101 overtime victory. Saturday marked the second consecutive overtime loss for the Pistons, who are now just one game ahead of the lowly Sixers in the Eastern Conference standings.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a free throw to break the deadlock 2:23 into the extra session. Henry Sims then gave the Sixers a 102-101 lead with a jumper 40 seconds later.

It was an offensive struggle throughout the overtime period, as Nerlens Noel hit a floater in the lane to extend the lead to 104-101 with 29.9 seconds left.

Caldwell-Pope missed a pair of 3s on the Pistons' next possession, and Michael Carter-Williams knocked down a pair of free throws to seal the win.

"Losing in general is not good," said Pistons center Andre Drummond. "Philly is a great team, despite their record. They're still an NBA team. The loss still hurts."

Josh Smith totaled 23 points with eight rebounds and Kyle Singler added 21 in the setback. Greg Monroe had 15 points and nine boards off the bench on Saturday night.

The Thunder collected their first win with Durant in uniform Friday night. After a loss in New Orleans on Wednesday when Durant returned following foot surgery, OKC left Philadelphia with 103-91 victory over the 76ers.

The reigning NBA MVP scored 27 points while playing nearly 30 minutes in his season debut. He played 29 minutes against the Sixers, scoring 10 on 3-of-11 shooting as Westbrook, in his third game back after missing 14 with a broken hand, led the way with 27 points.

Thunder coach Scott Brooks agreed Durant looked rusty, but stressed that he was just getting his game legs back, and that the team as it looked Friday has only practiced together three times.

"He's not going to have 30 points every night," Brooks said. "He's still two games in. I believe that the work he puts in is going to give him a better rhythm. What you see now is a player who hasn't played in six or seven weeks. He's going to continue to improve."

Serge Ibaka added 19 points for the Thunder and Jeremy Lamb scored 15 off the bench, including a couple of 3-pointers that thwarted an attempted Sixers rally late in the fourth quarter.

The Oklahoma City faithful will get their first peek at Durant on Tuesday when the Thunder host the Milwaukee Bucks. Two days later, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers come to town.

The Pistons beat the Thunder in OKC on Nov. 14 to snap a 10-game series losing streak. In fact, the Pistons have only one other victory over the Thunder since their move to Oklahoma City in the 2008-09 season and that was the first meeting.

OKC has won four straight at The Palace.