Top-seeded Pistons host Bucks

(Basketball News) - The Detroit Pistons try for their third straight win tonight when they open a three-game homestand versus the Milwaukee Bucks at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit made it a two straight with Wednesday’s 101-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.

Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess each scored 18 points for Detroit, which is the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince each tallied 16 points in the win for the Pistons.

The Pistons have a comfortable lead over Miami for home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs and will host Phoenix and the Hornets after Friday’s game with Milwaukee.

Detroit is 17-1 in its last 18 home games and 31-3 at the Palace this season.

Meanwhile, the Bucks have also won two straight and own the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

On Tuesday, Charlie Bell recorded the first triple-double of his career with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in a 132-110 win over the Phoenix Suns at the Bradley Center.

All three stats were career-bests for Bell, who filled in for an injured T.J. Ford and made 5-of-8 from three-point territory.

Michael Redd contributed in the beating of the Suns with 28 points, including a 6-of-11 clip from beyond the arc. Toni Kukoc added 17 points with a 4-of-5 showing from three-point land.

The barrage of threes — 18 to be exact — established a new franchise record for the Bucks, who burned the Suns with an incredible 46-point third quarter.

Milwaukee, which is 14-21 on the road in 2005-06, has won four of its last six games overall.

The Pistons lead the season series with Milwaukee 2-0 and have won four straight and six of the last eight meetings.

The Bucks have dropped five straight and 13 of 17 at The Palace.