Having the worst record in the NBA should land the Charlotte Bobcats a decent draft pick this summer, but first they must get through this tumultuous season before planning for the future.
The lowly Bobcats, owners of the worst record in the NBA at 7-49, will try to snap a 13-game losing streak tonight versus the visiting Detroit Pistons at Time Warner Cable Arena. Charlotte's losing ways continued with Tuesday's 103-90 setback at Cleveland, as Gerald Henderson scored 16 points and D.J. Augustin added 16 and 11 assists in defeat.
Rookie Kemba Walker scored 20 points off the bench for Charlotte, which was outrebounded, 45-32, and made 46.8 percent of its shots.
"Our rebounding was not good tonight," said Bobcats head coach Paul Silas. "(The Cavaliers) rebounded offensively against us. We had guys that would normally get a lot of rebounds for us and didn't."
Charlotte's starting frontcourt of Bismack Biyombo, Byron Mullens, and Derrick Brown were held to three points on 1-for-6 shooting in the first half. Charlotte is winless in seven straight at home and owns a 4-22 record as the host this season. It is just 5-36 against the East this season (3-17 home) and lost 16 in a row from Jan. 16-Feb. 15 this season.
The Bobcats' last win was a 107-103 home victory versus Toronto on March 17.
Detroit will close out a four-game road trip this evening and has lost the first three tests of the trek and four in a row away from The Palace.
The Pistons dropped a 119-89 decision at Orlando on Monday, as Tayshaun Prince had 21 points and eight rebounds in a losing cause. Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Pistons, who have lost three straight since winning five of six games.
"It's very embarrassing," said Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank. "We've got to figure out which group we want to be. Do we want to be the group that was 4-20? Or do we want to be the group that went near .500 basketball. It's humiliating. It's unacceptable."
Detroit is only 6-24 as the visitor this season and will return home following tonight's game for three games versus the Bucks, Bulls and Cavs. Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey is listed as questionable for tonight because of a bruised left knee and posted two points in the loss to the Magic. Stuckey leads the team with 15.9 ppg, while Greg Monroe is second with 15.7 ppg.
Monroe had nine points and five rebounds the last time out.
The Pistons and Bobcats will meet for the fourth and final time this season on Thursday, and Detroit has won the first three matchups. Detroit has won four in a row overall against the Bobcats, who have lost six of nine and eight of its last 12 as the host in this series.
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