Game 27: Los Angeles Lakers @ Detroit Pistons [Game Thread]

NBA Regular Season Game 27
	@
21-4 (6-2 away)		11-15 (8-4 home)
Palace of Auburn Hills Lakers Blog: Silver Screen and Roll
December 20, 2009  6:00 PM ET
TV: Fox Sports Detroit Radio: 950 WWJ
Probable starters:
Derek Fisher	PG	Chucky Atkins
Kobe Bryant	SG	Rodney Stuckey
Ron Artest	SF	Jonas Jerebko
Pau Gasol	PF	Jason Maxiell
Andrew Bynum	C	Ben Wallace

The last time these two teams met, the Pistons got worked by the defending champs.  Kobe dropped 40 points on the roster depleted 'stons en route to the Lakers 13-point victory.  The show moves to The Palace this evening where the Pistons play much better, but odds are in favor of a repeat performance. 

Detroit's roster continues to have its aches and pains as Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince are still out with injuries.  Ben Gordon is a game-time decision and now Charlie Villanueva is hindered by a nagging heel injury (that won't prevent him from playing, though).  

The Pistons are 'fresh' off a three game road trip, which inevitably also turned into a three game losing streak.  After a loss to the Thunder on Friday night, there's no sweeter homecoming present than the Lakers (sigh).  

If there's one thing going for the Pistons aside from the fact that they do play much better at home, they have beaten the likes of Denver, Orlando, and Atlanta at The Palace this season.  Adding the Lakers to that list would not only be impressive, but fitting.  

It's certainly possible.  The Lakers are at their final destination of a five game road trip before returning home to face the mighty Thunder that took down the Pistons the other night.  The only problem is that the Lakers don't lose often.  They have just four tallies in the L column this season and haven't lost a single game to a team with a losing record this season.

This could get ugly, but let's give it a valiant shot!