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Spurs may get reinforcements to face streaking Pistons

Jan 6, 2015 - 2:43 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The San Antonio Spurs have righted the ship a bit and will try to continue that momentum Tuesday night when they welcome the red-hot Detroit Pistons to the AT&T Center.

After a rough stretch and a losing record in December, the Spurs have won two straight to open this current four-game homestand. San Antonio will close the stay on Friday against the Phoenix Suns.

The reigning NBA champions might get a boost on Tuesday. All-Star point guard Tony Parker is listed as questionable and has targeted this game for a return from a hamstring injury that has cost him 13 of the last 16 contests.

"I thought it felt good, but as you pass 30 years old, sometimes your body doesn't react the same way," Parker told the San Antonio Express-News. "I just have to make sure I'm better."

While Parker might return on Tuesday, there's still no timetable on Kawhi Leonard, who is out with a hand injury.

The Spurs opened the homestand with a two-point, overtime victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on New Year's Eve, then followed with a 101-92 win versus the Washington Wizards on Saturday.

San Antonio shot better than 55 percent from the field.

Cory Joseph, still replacing Parker in the starting lineup, scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half and Boris Diaw dropped 12 of his 14 in the second.

"If I can go help the team, I'm going to go help the team," said Joseph, who played through an illness. "I felt like I could go after the first couple minutes, so I kept on playing."

Tiago Splitter and Patty Mills added 16 and 15 points, respectively, for San Antonio, which finished December with a losing record for the first time since February, 1999.

The Pistons remain undefeated since the abrupt release of forward Josh Smith. They are 5-0, including three consecutive road victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and New York Knicks.

Detroit, which will visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, recorded yet another lopsided victory with Sunday's 114-95 home win over the Sacramento Kings. The Pistons' average margin of victory during this winning streak is 18.2 points.

On Sunday, Brandon Jennings dropped a season-high 35 points to lead the Pistons. Jennings shot 14-for-21, hit five 3-pointers and handed out seven assists. He has scored at least 25 points in three of the five wins during this stretch.

"I just love, not only the way he's playing, but his whole attitude," said Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy.

Andre Drummond had 15 points and 14 rebounds while Greg Monroe gave 14 points and 11 boards for Detroit, which won only five of its first 28 games this season before this five-game win streak.

The two teams have split the previous four meetings, but the Spurs are 7-3 in the last 10 encounters. San Antonio has won four straight as the host in this series.