Coach Brown returns to Philly

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.

Tonight’s meeting is also a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pistons eliminated Philadelphia in six games before falling to New Jersey in the following round.

The Sixers have dropped two straight and four of their last six games. Their latest setback came Tuesday in Milwaukee, as they lost 95-91 to the Bucks.

Allen Iverson paced Philadelphia with 28 points and also handed out six assists. Derrick Coleman returned to the lineup and chipped in 14 points for the 76ers, who have dropped two in a row. Coleman had missed the previous five games with a knee injury.

Kenny Thomas collected 12 points and 15 rebounds in the loss. Before the game, the Sixers placed forward Glenn Robinson on the injured list with a left ankle sprain.

The Pistons, meanwhile, have won five of their last six contests with their latest win coming in Atlanta on Monday.

Chauncey Billups scored 24 points to lift Detroit to a 94-89 win over the Hawks. Tayshaun Prince added 22 points for the Pistons, who rebounded from Sunday night’s heartbreaking one-point loss to the Hornets.

Lindsey Hunter started in place of the injured Richard Hamilton (neck strain) and scored 12 points. Hamilton is questionable for tonight’s game.

Philadelphia has taken two of three and eight of the last 12 regular-season meetings with Detroit. The Sixers have also won eight of the last 10 contests in Philadelphia.

This season, the Sixers hold just a 3-3 record at the Wachovia Center and are 5-4 against the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons, who are 5-2 away from home, have won all five of their games against Atlantic Division opponents.