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Iverson, Pistons hope to gel vs. Spurs

Dec 2, 2008 - 2:44 PM Detroit (10-6) at San Antonio (9-7) 8:30 p.m. EST

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- The Detroit Pistons are struggling to find chemistry, something the San Antonio Spurs have apparently rediscovered.

The Pistons will be looking to bounce back from a loss when they visit the Spurs on Tuesday.

Detroit is 6-6 since acquiring Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups in a trade with Denver.

One of the game's biggest scoring threats, Iverson has had trouble fitting into the Pistons' team concept. He also got into hot water with the team last week when he skipped Thanksgiving practice, a move that resulted in him missing a start.

Iverson returned to the starting lineup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday but managed only nine points on 2-of-9 shooting in 32 minutes. Usually a stout defensive team, Detroit allowed the Blazers to shoot 52 percent (36-of-69) in the setback.

Iverson, who has averaged 27.6 points per game during his career, has not topped 17 points in the last five contests.

The Spurs finally have their big three healthy, as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have joined Tim Duncan on the floor after nursing injuries.

Parker played in his second game since coming back on Saturday and managed 15 points, but San Antonio had its four-game winning streak snapped in a 103-84 loss to the Houston Rockets.

Duncan had 17 points and Ginobili chipped in 11 during the setback, but the Spurs shot 38 percent (29-of-77) from the floor.