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Pistons look to end two-game skid at Dallas

Dec 7, 2006 - 2:48 PM Detroit (11-7) at Dallas (13-5) 8:00 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) - After an eight-game winning streak, the Detroit Pistons have lost two straight. It doesn't get any easier on Thursday.

The Pistons will face off against the red-hot Dallas Mavericks on the road.

With the loss of Ben Wallace to free agency in the offseason, the Pistons started 3-5 but then ripped off a solid winning streak.

But on Tuesday, the Pistons dropped their second consecutive contest, an 88-85 loss to Portland, despite 25 points from Richard Hamilton.

Detroit will have to take on arguably the deepest and most talented squad in the NBA on Thursday, one that has won 13 of its last 14 games. On Tuesday, Josh Howard got off to another quick start and scored 23 points in a terrific two-way effort as the Mavericks posted a 92-75 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points and 13 rebounds for Dallas, which bounced back nicely from Monday's loss at Washington. It never trailed for the fifth time in six games and held the Nets to 35 percent (26-of-74) shooting.

The teams split their two meetings last season, with each winning at home.