Pistons host Iverson-less Sixers

Auburn Hills, MI (Basketball News) - The second meeting of the season between Larry Brown and his former pupils takes place tonight when the Detroit Pistons host Eastern Conference rival Philadelphia at the Palace.

However, tonight’s meeting could be a lot different than the first, as Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson is expected to miss the game with a swollen knee.

In the first meeting between Brown’s Pistons and the 76ers, Iverson scored 30 points and handed out seven assists to lead Philadelphia over Detroit, 90-86, on November 26th at the Wachovia Center.

Brown was the head coach of the Sixers for six seasons before resigning after the 2002-03 campaign. The Hall-of-Famer then accepted the Detroit position one week after announcing he was leaving Philadelphia.

Iverson poured in a game-high 35 points to lead the 76ers to a 93-90 win over the Miami Heat on Friday in an Atlantic Division tilt from AmericanAirlines Arena. Iverson made just 7-of-23 baskets from the field, but connected on 16- of-17 from the free-throw line. He was 5-for-9 from beyond the three-point arc.

Aaron McKie chipped in with 14 points and Kenny Thomas had nine points and 12 rebounds in the win. Derrick Coleman had 12 points and seven boards, as the Sixers have won two in a row and three of their last four.

Philadelphia is 5-6 on the road this season.

The Pistons attempt to bounce back from a road loss.Detroit had its four-game winning streak stopped on Saturday, as they found themselves on the wrong end of an 86-80 decision to the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

Mehmet Okur paced the Pistons with 21 points while Richard Hamilton added 17 in the loss.

The Pistons, who have won seven of their last eight at home, are 7-2 as the host this season.

Philadelphia has won two straight and three of the last four meetings with the Pistons. The 76ers have lost two of its last three at Detroit.