Charlotte @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2019 ) Detroit 101, Charlotte 102

The Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons have finished alongside one another in the standings in each of the past three seasons and they're separated by a half-game early in 2019-20. The head-to-head matchups have followed a very different pattern, as the Hornets continue to dominate the Pistons, who host the back half of a home-and-home set between the teams Friday night.

Charlotte's 102-101 win over Detroit at home Wednesday night was its eighth straight victory in the series, a run that includes two wins over the Pistons this month alone. Hornets head coach James Borrego had challenged his team to step up its game on the defensive end, as opponents averaged 118.2 points during Charlotte's five-game losing streak entering Wednesday. "Well, the last 24 hours, 48 hours, we talked about our defense," Borrego told reporters after his team held Detroit to 41 second-half points. "I thought we got off to a good start defensively. We really did." Center Bismack Biyombo led six Hornets in double figures with 19 points while Blake Griffin paced Detroit with 26.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE HORNETS (7-12): Guard Devonte' Graham continued his breakout campaign Wednesday with 16 points and a career-high 15 assists against only one turnover. Rookie PJ Washington chipped in 17 points in 21 minutes after being held to single digits in each of his previous five games. Reserve guard Nic Batum had a season-high 13 points and earned praise from Borrego for his defensive effort against Pistons guard Derrick Rose.

ABOUT THE PISTONS (6-12): Detroit lost to Charlotte earlier in the season on a buzzer-beater and it couldn't get a shot off in the final seconds of Wednesday's loss as late-game execution was once again an issue. "Would've, could've, should've," coach Dwane Casey told the media of the end of the game. "It always looks like it comes down the last play and the execution of it. Just scoring a little quicker and that comes from being together and understanding what we are doing." The Pistons have lost their last five games decided by single digits.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Hornets' recent dominance of the Pistons includes three consecutive wins in Detroit.

2. Charlotte C Cody Zeller (hip) sat out Wednesday and is day-to-day.

3. Detroit C Andre Drummond is tied for second in the NBA with 15 double-doubles after recording 14 points and 21 rebounds Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Pistons 105, Hornets 100