After earning the season’s first winning-streak with wins over Brooklyn and Milwaukee, the Detroit Pistons (6-10) have lost consecutive games – to Chicago and the Los Angeles Lakers. Holding eighth place in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons welcome the slumping Philadelphia 76ers (6-11) Sunday afternoon in a 3:30p.m. tip-off at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Philadelphia, a team accused of ‘tanking’ for an early lottery pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, has lost three straight games and stands just a half-game behind Detroit and playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Forwards Evan Turner (21.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG) and Thaddeus Young (15.2 PPG, 7 RPG) and center Spencer Hawes (16.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG) are all having career years, and rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams (17.2 PPG, 7.2 APG) has been better than expected. The Sixers started the season with three straight wins, but have dropped 11 of their last 14 games.
Detroit added rookie guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to its starting lineup on Nov. 15, and have started him ever since. The Pistons will remain with their starting five of Josh Smith (13.8 PPG, 7.3 APG), Greg Monroe (15.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG), Andre Drummond (12.0 PPG, 11.8 RPG), Caldwell-Pope (7.2 PPG, 0.9 APG), and Brandon Jennings (15.6 PPG, 8.1 APG) for the fifth consecutive game.
Chauncey Billups (knee tendinitis) and Will Bynum (left hamstring) are both listed as inactive for the Pistons. Arnett Moultrie (left ankle) and Nerlens Noel (left knee) will not play for the 76ers.
Follow all of the action on Twitter, live from the Palace of Auburn Hills: @chriskudialis
