Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks guard Monta Ellis (11), shown here driving in a recent game against the Charlotte Bobcats' Bismack Biyombo, has helped the team improve in several key categories.
When: 8 p.m.
Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills
Records: Pistons 22-36; Bucks 28-30.
Last game: The Pistons equaled a season-high for points in a quarter with a 40-point outburst in the third period Thursday at Charlotte, where they completed a four-game season sweep of the Bobcats in a 109-94 win. The Bucks went to New York on Wednesday and beat the Knicks, 110-107, in a vital win for their playoff hopes.
Pistons probable starters:Tayshaun Prince, 6-9, 215 (Kentucky); Jason Maxiell, 6-7, 260 (Cincinnati); Greg Monroe, 6-11, 250 (Georgetown); Rodney Stuckey, 6-5, 205 (Eastern Washington); Brandon Knight, 6-3, 189 (Kentucky).
Bucks probable starters: Carlos Delfino, 6-6, 230 (Argentina); Ersan Ilyasova, 6-10, 235 (Turkey); Drew Gooden, 6-10, 250 (Kansas); Monta Ellis, 6-3, 185 (Jackson, Miss., Lanier H.S.); Brandon Jennings, 6-1, 169 (Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill Academy).
Fast facts: The Bucks are two games behind the New York Knicks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. … This is the fourth meeting between the teams, with the home team winning the previous three. … The Bucks beat the Pistons 102-93 Jan. 12 and 103-82 on Jan. 30, while the Pistons won 88-80 on Feb. 3. … This is the first meeting since the Bucks acquired Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Stephen Jackson and Andrew Bogut before the trade deadline. … Since the trade, the Bucks are 9-6 compared to 19-24 before, average 104.9 points compared to 97.0 before, shooting 47.9 percent compared to 43.1 percent before, shooting 38.1 percent on 3-pointers compared to 33.6 percent before, and averaging 27.1 assists compared to 22.5 before.
Frank-ly speaking: The bar definitely raises because what happens â€" and we've seen it first-hand when we played Miami and Orlando â€" is the desperation and urgency that Milwaukee is going to bring to the game. They're playing for their playoff lives, so we have to understand we have to approach it like it's a playoff game for us. Because if you let down in intensity whatsoever, it's hard to win those games. But if we come with the same sort of energy, it's a playoff game as well, on our home court, then let's see where we're at.†â€" Lawrence Frank on the barometer of the final eight games, six of them at home. Four of the eight games are against teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today.
TV: Fox Sports Detroit Plus
Email David Mayo at dmayo@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
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