Date: March 7, 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Detroit record: 31-29
Atlanta record: 34-28
Detroit probable starters:
Rodney
StuckeyRichard
HamiltonTayshaun
PrinceAntonio
McDyessRasheed
Wallace
Atlanta probable starters:
Mike
BibbyJoe
JohnsonMarvin
WillaimsJosh
SmithAl
Horford
Spread: Detroit +2
Projected score: Atlana wins 96-95
Outlook: The Pistons’ goal should be getting home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Seven of their final games come against Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia and Chicago — who are all within 5.5 games of the fourth seed.
A win against the Hawks, who still hold the fourth seed despite losing seven of their last 10, would be a start.
Atlanta coach Mike Woodson benched Josh Smith in the Hawks’ last game, according to Sekou Smith of The Atlanta Journal Constitution. It’s not known whether Smith will play tonight.