• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Pistons look to snap out of funk vs. Pacers

Dec 12, 2008 - 11:33 AM Indiana (7-14) at Detroit (11-9) 8:00 p.m. EST

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- The acquisition of Allen Iverson was supposed to help the Detroit Pistons compete with the best of the Eastern Conference. Right now, they are having trouble with some of the worst.

Detroit has lost three straight to teams with records under .500 and faces another such foe when it hosts the Indiana Pacers Friday.

The Pistons are 8-9 since trading fan-favorite Chauncey Billups, veteran forward Antonio McDyess and center Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets for the four-time league scoring champion. Following losses to Philadelphia and New York, Detroit hit rock-bottom with a loss to the lowly Washington Wizards Tuesday.

Coach Michael Curry inserted Rodney Stuckey, who had 10 points and 11 assists in the 107-94 setback, into the starting lineup, moving a perturbed Iverson to shooting guard.

"I have a totally different role here and, if it translates to success, I'm totally happy with it," Iverson said. "But it feels different. I don't feel like myself out there on the basketball court."

Indiana is in the midst of its losing own streak, but can blame it on a demanding schedule. The Pacers have four straight and six of seven, with four of those losses coming to the three best teams in the East: Boston, Cleveland and Orlando.

In its last contest Wednesday, Indiana fell to the Toronto Raptors, 101-88. Danny Granger scored 20 points and Troy Murphy added 20 points and 20 rebounds.

After Friday's contest with the Pistons, the Pacers face five straight teams with records under .500 as they try to climb out of last place in the Central Division.