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Pistons seek win over skiding Pacers

Jan 29, 2008 - 2:42 PM Detroit (31-13) at Indiana (19-26) 7:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - The presence of the Indiana Pacers has been a pleasant sight for the Detroit Pistons lately.

The Pistons chase their fifth consecutive win over the Pacers when the teams meet at Conseco Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

Detroit swept both ends of a home-and-home series against Indiana during its 11-game winning streak from December 14-January 4. Since losing the first two meetings of the 2006-07 season, the Pistons have not lost to the Pacers since December 29, 2006, in Detroit.

The Pistons struggled after that stretch, though, losing six of nine.

Detroit pulled out a much-needed confidence boost on Friday with its 101-93 victory over the Orlando Magic, the second straight win after a three-game slide. The Pistons' backcourt duo of Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups combined for 53 points and 14 assists.

They may be catching Indiana at the right time as the Pacers have dropped three straight contests and 13 of 17, including a 98-96 defeat to the lowly Miami Heat on Saturday.

Mike Dunleavy scored 25 points in the setback - the third straight game in which the NBA's sixth-best offense (103.2 points per game) was held under 100 points.