Pistons open road trip in City of Brotherly Love

Philadelphia’s All-Star guard Allen Iverson is expected to miss tonight’s contest. Iverson has missed the Sixers’ last three games with a sprained left ankle. The 76ers are 2-1 without the Georgetown product in that span. Iverson leads the club in scoring (33.6 ppg) and assists (7.5 apg).

The Sixers try to get back on the winning track as they closeout a brief two- game homestand. On Wednesday, Boris Diaw registered a triple-double with 14 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to lead a balanced attack, as the Phoenix Suns cruised past Philadelphia, 123-99, at the Wachovia Center.

John Salmons ended with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Andre Iguodala chipped in 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Sixers, who had a two- game winning streak halted.

The 76ers are 15-9 as the host this season.

Detroit will try and make it two wins in a row. On Wednesday, Richard Hamilton finished with 21 points and Tayshaun Prince netted 20, as the Pistons posted a 90-74 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Prince finished 7-of-11 from the field to help the Pistons regroup from Tuesday’s defeat at New Jersey, which halted Detroit’s 11-game win streak. The Pistons have not lost back-to-back games all season long.

Ben Wallace failed to score but hauled down 17 rebounds in the win over the Timberwolves for Detroit, which outrebounded Minnesota, 40-33.

The Pistons, who will also visit Indiana and Atlanta on the current road trip, are an impressive 17-4 as the visitor this season. They are 5-2 in their last seven away from home.

This is the second meeting of the season between the clubs. On November 2nd, Hamilton poured in a game-high 37 points and Prince netted 16, leading the Pistons to a 108-88 win over the Sixers at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit has won six of the last seven contests in this series. The Pistons have lost three of their last five at Philadelphia.