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Pistons start soft spot in schedule with 76ers

Dec 5, 2008 - 11:23 AM Philadelphia (8-11) at Detroit (11-6) 8:00 p.m. EST

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- After a tough road win, the Detroit Pistons return home to start what appears to be a soft par of their schedule.

With a number of games against sub-.500 opponents looming, the Pistons host the disappointing Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Detroit (11-6) is 3 1/2 games behind the surging Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division, but the Pistons should be able to keep pace, if not pick up some ground, over the next few games.

The Pistons have won three of their last four and are coming off an 89-77 victory at San Antonio on Tuesday. Rasheed Wallace made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and scored 17 points in the final 15 minutes to lead Detroit.

After hosting the 76ers, the Pistons head to New York and Washington before hosting Indiana. Following the Pacers game is a trip to Charlotte and then a three-day break before hosting the Wizards.

On the other hand, the 76ers can't afford to take anyone lightly the way they are playing.

Philadelphia (8-11) has lost five of six and has not been the force most observers expected entering the season. The 76ers have not defended consistently nor have they been able to get out on the fast break as much as they would like.

Incorporating Elton Brand into the lineup has also been a work in progress as the 76ers get used to playing with a legitimate post presence for the first time in a few seasons.

The 76ers are coming off a 114-102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Andre Miller scored 26 points and Andre Iguodala had 19 for the Sixers, who played the entire fourth quarter and part of the third without Brand, who suffered a strained right hamstring and finished with three points.