Detroit Pistons Team Report - December 4

(Basketball News) - The defending world champion Detroit Pistons will try to get back to the .500 mark tonight, when they travel to New Orleans to battle the struggling Hornets.

The Pistons had a chance to win back-to-back games for just the second time this season on Friday, but were handed an 80-77 setback by Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan racked up 18 points and 18 rebounds to help the Spurs overcome Detroit at the SBC Center.

Chauncey Billups netted all 18 of his points in the fourth quarter as the Pistons nearly overcame a 21-point deficit early in the second half. Antonio McDyess compiled 13 points and nine rebounds off the bench for Detroit, which has dropped four of six.

Pistons forward Ben Wallace returned from a six-game suspension for his part in the notorious November 19 melee against Indiana and registered five points and nine boards in 33 minutes.

Detroit trailed, 55-37, midway through the third quarter, but got the lead down to three points when Richard Hamilton scored off a Spurs turnover to make it 75-72 with 1:10 to play. Billups later buried another shot from beyond the arc with seven seconds on the clock which sliced San Antonio’s edge to just 78-77.

Brent Barry, though, sunk two foul shots for the final margin and Malik Rose sealed the win by stealing Tayshaun Prince’s inbound pass.

The Pistons and Hornets have yet to play each other this season, but New Orleans took three of four from the NBA champs last season. The Hornets have won five of the last six meetings, including three straight at home.