:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/5411055/20121219_sal_ss9_118.0.jpg)
Game tips at 7:30 p.m. EST
Washington Wizards: 3-20 (1-11 road)
Detroit Pistons: 7-21 (5-8 home)
Detroit Pistons Tickets
The Wizards took a $95 million gamble to bring on Nene, Emeka Okafor, and Trevor Ariza in attempt to give John Wall his first chance at sniffing the playoffs - or cracking 30 wins for that matter.
Unfortunately for the Wiz, the guy the plan was built around is still looking for his first game of the season. Wall has been out and everything that could go wrong has. Nene's been productive, but struggling again with foot injuries that have limited his minutes. And most everyone else has just been flat out bad.
However the Pistons enter tonight's game with the longer losing streak at six, and have been losers in 8 of their last 9. It's tough to pin the losing streak on any one element, as nothing really stands out. It seems to be an assortment of running into teams playing well, keeping it relatively close, then falling apart down the stretch. Detroit's been outscored in the fourth in every game of the losing streak.
Washington stinks, but there are a couple of things to watch out for. Their team defense isn't bad. Nene's always tough, even if hobbled. But the two biggest concerns: Cartier Martin and Martell Webster. They're really the only two healthy and mildly efficient scoring threats on the Wizards. You never want to lose to the Wizards, but you really don't want to lose to the Wizards on the backs of Cartier Martin and Martell Webster.
Feed the Moose: 35 points against the Raptors was a career high. Hobbled Nene, Kevin Seraphin, and Okafor seem like a good group to set a new one against.
Bull-Moose Party: Let's keep it going, the more minutes the better.
Point guardy stuff: The team has only cracked 20 assists once during the losing streak, and has been at 15 the past two games. They are averaging 20 per game for the season, which is good 25th in the league. So under 20 for 5 out of the last 6 may have something to do with all of these losses.
We're 2-0 against the Cavs. Are there two teams in the East we're better than?