Pistons go for 12th straight win in New Jersey

On Sunday, Rasheed Wallace scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Detroit continued its home dominance with a 102-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Richard Hamilton added 20 points and Tayshaun Prince had 19 for the Pistons, who have won an amazing 20 of their 22 games in their arena this season.

Ben Wallace had 14 points and 13 boards and Chauncey Billups registered 10 points in the win.

At 37-5, Detroit is tied for the fourth-best start in league history through 42 games, trailing only the 39-3 records by the Chicago Bulls in 1995-96 and the Lakers in 1971-72, and the 38-4 mark by Philadelphia in 1966-67. The Bulls teams in 1991-92 and 1996-97, as well as the Sixers in 1982-83, also started 37-5.

A win tonight would also give Detroit its first 12-game winning streak since matching a team record by winning 13 straight from December 27, 2003-January 19, 2004.

New Jersey, meanwhile, returns home after a disastrous four-game West Coast swing. The Nets closed their trek in disappointing fashion on Saturday, as they dropped a 113-104 decision to the Seattle SuperSonics at KeyArena.

Richard Jefferson had a season-high 36 points and pulled down nine rebounds and Vince Carter added 29 for New Jersey, which was winless on the trip and has dropped five of six and eight of its last 11.

The Nets recent struggles have allowed the Philadelphia 76ers to climb into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division.

New Jersey, which begins a stretch where it plays six of seven at home, is 12-6 in its arena.

Detroit topped the Nets earlier in the season and has won four of the last five and six of the last nine meetings. The Pistons have also won three of four and eight of 11 in the Garden State.