Game #24: 12-15-09 Detroit @ Houston

( 11 - 12 ) VS ( 13 - 10 )

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Time 8.30 P EST
Radio: 97.1 FM The Ticket
TV: FS Detroit HD & NBA LP
where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Game Notes

At
Toyota Center, Houston, TX



Stuckey/Hamilton/Jerebko/Maxiell/Wallace





Brooks/Ariza/Battier/Scola/Hayes

INJURY REPORT

Will Bynum Ques - Ankle.
Ben Gordon Ques - Ankle.
Tayshaun Prince Out - Ruptured disc in back.


Trevor Ariza Suspension.
Tracy McGrady Out indefinitely - Knee.
Yao Ming .

TEAM LEADERS

Richard Hamilton 21.5ppg & 2spg
Ben Wallace 10rpg & 1.22bpg
Rodney Stuckey 4.5apg


Aaron Brooks 17.2ppg & 5.3apg
Luis Scola 9.5rpg
Trevor Ariza 2.13spg
Carl Landry 0.96bpg

Houston 107
Detroit 96

Boxscore

The Pistons faced themselves in the Rockets: another scrapping, injury-depleted team.

Unfortunately, the Rockets were the aggressors. They shot over 60% in the first quarter to go up 29-19 and ride the cushion all the way to the end.

The Pistons opened flat on defense and cold on offense aside from Hamilton (21 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds). Stuckey set up Hamilton and his teammates with several early assists, but started cold from the field as he struggled at first to get accustomed to playing with Hamilton. He warmed up as the game went along to finish with 17 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds. Villanueva led the bench with 16 points and 4 rebounds. Wallace, Jerebko, Daye, and Atkins had solid games also.

But the Pistons could not shut down the Rockets, who were coming off a Sunday loss to the Raptors. The Rockets have a 9-1 record in games following losses, I believe.

The Pistons have been playing heroically, while short-handed, and Coach Kuester has shown that he can coach a team well even under tough conditions. The return of Gordon, Bynum, and eventually Prince, though, will increase the Pistons' margin for error and let them develop their full potential this season.

The Pistons will have to continue treading water till all hands come back on deck.