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League's best take center stage in Detroit

Jan 5, 2008 - 1:20 PM Boston (28-3) at Detroit (26-7) 7:30 pm EST

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) - The Detroit Pistons are seeking their 12th straight win, but it won't be easy with the Boston Celtics in town Saturday.

In a matchup of the hottest teams in the NBA, Detroit hopes to keep riding the impressive play of Richard Hamilton, who has scored at least 20 points in six straight games.

Hamilton poured in 22 points on Friday to lead the Pistons to a 101-85 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Hamilton along with fellow All-Star Chauncey Billups dominated Boston's backcourt in the first matchup on December 19 as the duo combined for 49 points - including the game-winning free throws by Billups in the closing seconds of a 87-85 victory.

Both teams have gone 8-0 since that meeting, the Celtics' last loss.

Boston swingman Paul Pierce would like to forget the first meeting as he connected on just 5-of-16 from the field en route to a dismal 11-point performance, courtesy of Tayshaun Prince's defense.

Pierce and Kevin Garnett each scored 23 points as the Celtics topped Memphis, 100-96, on Friday.

The Pistons, who own an 18-2 record against Eastern Conference foes, have captured 14 of the last 15 contests against Boston, which hasn't won in Motown since the 2002-03 campaign.