Detroit Pistons Team Report - November 27

(Basketball News) - The defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons will try to post back-to-back victories for just the second time this season, as they travel to Milwaukee to battle the Bucks at the Bradley Center.

The Pistons are just 6-6 on the season, but are coming off a thrilling victory over Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami Heat on Friday night. Richard Hamilton banked home a shot over the outstretched arm of O’Neal with 1.3 seconds remaining, lifting Detroit to a 78-77 victory over Miami at The Palace.

Hamilton scored 24 points with seven rebounds for the Pistons, who are 2-2 since the highly-publicized melee during their game with Indiana last Friday. Chauncey Billups added 15 points and seven assists in the win.

Miami only made one field goal in the final 4:40, and it was Rasual Butler’s jumper that gave the Heat a 77-76 lead with 7.3 ticks remaining.

Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince was called on to inbound the ball at the other end seconds later, and he found a slashing Hamilton under the basket. Hamilton cut to the left side of the paint and lofted a shot just over O’Neal’s arm for the go-ahead bucket. Butler’s jumper at the buzzer fell short in Miami’s last chance.

Detroit had lost back-to-back games without the services of the suspended Ben Wallace, who has two games remaining on a six-game suspension for his part in last Friday night’s fight. Wallace is eligible to return next Friday night in San Antonio.

Tonight’s game is the first of the season between the Pistons and Bucks. Milwaukee was eliminated by Detroit in five games in the first round of the playoffs last season. The Pistons also won three of four regular-season matchups between the teams.

Detroit has won six of the last 10 meetings overall, but has dropped four of its last six contests in Milwaukee.