Heat 90 - 93 Pistons
Final
  for this game

Struggling Pistons attempt to cool Heat

Feb 4, 2009 - 11:16 AM Miami (26-21) at Detroit (25-21) 7:30 p.m. EST

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- The Detroit Pistons are sliding down the ladder in the Eastern Conference and don't appear to know how to climb back up.

The Pistons will be looking to snap a four-game home losing streak when they face the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

When Allen Iverson was brought over in a trade with the Denver Nuggets earlier in the season, the thinking was that the scoring would increase. However, Iverson is averaging a career-low 17.8 points with the Detroit, while the team ranks 29th in the NBA in scoring.

The Pistons have been particularly bad of late, losing nine of 12 while topping the century mark twice.

They have averaged 79 in the past two games - both losses - and have slipped from a solid position as the fourth-best team in the East to sixth.

The Heat are one of the teams that have cruised past Detroit, winning four of six. They have moved from the worst record in the NBA to fifth-best in the East this season.

A healthy Dwyane Wade is a big part of the turnaround, leading the NBA in scoring at 28.5 points per game. Wade poured in 32 points on Tuesday as Miami embarrassed the Los Angeles Clippers, 119-95.






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