AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- A pair of teams heading in
opposite directions square off Tuesday, when the New York Knicks
meet the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Detroit won nine of its final 10 games before the All-Star break
to move into second place in the Eastern Conference with a
32-19 record. Contrastly, New York posted a franchise worst 2-13
record in January before losing six of its first nine games in
February, falling into last place in the Atlantic Division.
The Pistons posted their fourth straight victory Wednesday with
a 93-75 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers. Chauncey Billups
and Richard Hamilton scored 20 points apiece while shooting a
combined 15-of-24 from the floor for Detroit, which hit 50
percent of its shots for the third straight game.
In February, Billups, who hit five 3-pointers in the victory
over Philadelphia, is averaging just under 20 points and seven
assists while shooting 56 percent from the floor and 53 percent
from the arc.
Detroit has won both meetings between the teams this season,
including a 91-61 rout at the Palace on January 29, and attempts
to notch its first sweep of New York since the 1995-96 season.
In the rout, Hamilton scored 18 points for the Pistons while
Jamal Crawford paced the Knicks with 14.
New York shot 56 percent (42-of-75) from the floor while posting
a 108-90 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Crawford scored 23 points, including hitting five 3-pointers and
Mike Sweetney added 18 points and nine rebounds.
Leading the Knicks to two wins in the last three games, Crawford
has averaged just under 22 points and three steals while
shooting 48 percent (24-of-50) from the floor, including 46
percent (12-of-26) from the arc.