The Pistons (30-13) will host the Magic (27-17) at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Tip off is 7:00 pm est and can be viewed locally on TV20 and nationally on ESPN.
Magic Snapshot
Road record: 17-9
Last game: 1/23 (Weds) W 112-85 @ Memphis
Last 10: 4-6
Injuries: Tony Battie (torn left rotator cuff), Jameer Nelson (strained tendon, right foot)
Last meeting: Jan. 21st Pistons (100) @ Magic (102)
Four days ago the Magic ended their 9 game losing streak to the Pistons on a last second Rashard Lewis 12′ glasser. Tonight they’ll be looking to stop a Palace losing streak that dates back almost four years. The Pistons are coming off a win where they should look to build momentum. Beating Philly isn’t something to leave a red hand print on you back about, but the ‘Stonz did look like they were getting back to the form that allowed the to run off 11 straight victories before being derailed by the Celtics.
The Pistons need to concentrate on defending Orlando’s high pick-and-roll between Hedo Turkoglu and Dwight Howard. They need to do a better job of not sleeping on Turkoglu and just letting Sheed stay home on D. Howard. Hedo is having a great season so far and it’s being done mostly under the radar. The guy is quietly averaging 19 pts, 6 rbs, & 4 ast. per game often times (like Monday) doing most of his damage in the 4th quarter of games.
NOTES:
- The Magic are on a 3 game winning streak (POR / DET / MEM)
- Orlando’s 17 road wins is tops in the NBA
- The odds makers have the Pistons as a 7 1/2 point favorite tonight
- Check out Ben Q. Rock’s excellent work over at his Magic blog Third Quarter Collapse
