Hornets back home this evening to take on the 11-13 Detroit Pistons. Honeybee night at the Hive. Game tips at the usual 7 Central.

The Pistons had won five straight games before losing 96-107 in Houston last night. Detroit’s starting backcourt of Rodney Stuckey and Rip Hamilton combined to score 38 points while Charlie Villanueva contributed 16 off the bench. On Monday, Stuckey was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

The Pistons are hurting right now, with Ben Gordon and Will Bynum having missed recent games due to ankle sprains and Tayshaun Prince still out with a back injury. Bynum and Gordon both practiced Monday but did not play last night. Hamilton also suffered a hamstring injury in Houston so he may not be available for this one.

The Hornets have lost two straight, coming off Monday’s loss to the Mavs in Dallas.

Linkage:

• Lagniappe: Rookie watch, Twittastic Tuesday and Anthony Randolph anybody?
  
• Rival bloggers: Detroit Bad Boys | Need4Sheed | PistonPowered (THN)

(Many thanks to Dariusz for the banner, today featuring Darren Collison. Be sure to check out more of Dariusz’s designs in our Wallpapers vault.)