AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Portland Trail Blazers look to win their fifth game in a row when they continue their Eastern road swing against the Detroit Pistons. The Trail Blazers have won 13 of their last 14 games - including a 103-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday - to open up a seven-game lead at the top of the Northwest Division. Portland dropped its first two road games before reeling off six straight wins as it hopes to heap more misery on the Pistons by beating them for the fourth consecutive time.
It's been a season to forget for Detroit, which slumped to its 12th consecutive defeat following the 96-94 setback to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Pistons haven't tasted victory since Nov. 14 - surrendering 100 or more points in six of their last seven games - and could match a franchise record for futility with losses to the Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns this week. "It sucks 11, 12 straight," Detroit center Andre Drummond said. "We're doing a great job of staying positive and not letting the losses get to us."
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TV: 7:30 p.m. CSN Northwest (Portland), FSN Detroit
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (16-4): LaMarcus Aldridge collected a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds in the win over the Knicks for his seventh double-double in his last eight games. Damian Lillard tallied 20 points - including 8-of-9 from the foul line - and has scored 20 or more points in four of his last six outings. Portland is 9-0 against Eastern Conference foes with its last loss coming to the Orlando Magic on Mar. 25, 2014.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (3-18): Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures against the Thunder, but went 1-of-5 from 3-point range and has missed 15 of his last 19 attempts. Josh Smith scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds against Oklahoma City, but missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds. "I shot the three didn't I?" Smith told reporters. "I had a great look, but it just didn't go down."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Trail Blazers have won nine of the last 11 matchups with the Pistons.
2. Portland is 13-1 when scoring 100 or more points.
3. Detroit is 1-9 versus Western Conference teams.