(Sportsbooks) - The struggling Detroit Pistons will kick off a grueling five-game road trip Sunday night against LeBron James and the Central Division-rival Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Detroit has lost five in a row and will try to avoid a season-high sixth straight defeat in Cleveland. It will also visit the Heat, Hornets, Magic and Celtics and is 13-11 away from The Palace of Auburn Hills this season. The losing ways continued for the Pistons in an 83-79 setback versus San Antonio on Thursday, as Allen Iverson's 31-point effort wasn't enough to stop the bleeding. Rasheed Wallace ended with 11 points and Jason Maxiell donated 10 points and nine boards off the bench. Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince combined for only 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting from the floor for Detroit, which also lost five straight this season from January 10 - 17. Meanwhile, the division-leading Cavaliers will put their 24-1 home record on the line tonight in the opener of a two-game residency versus Detroit and Memphis. They have won three straight overall, including Friday's 111-103 triumph at Milwaukee behind a season-high 55 points from James. James buried 8-of-11 three-point attempts and also dished out nine assists in his seventh career 50-point game. Mo Williams added 23 points and six assists for the Cavaliers, who got 11 points from center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Cavs guard Delonte West (broken right wrist) hasn't played since January 15 at Chicago and is questionable for this evening's contest. The 2008-09 season series between Detroit and Cleveland is tied at a game apiece, while the Pistons have won 10 of 13 and 12 of the last 17 meetings. These two teams have split the last eight meetings at Cleveland. |
