Milwaukee @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2017 ) Detroit 100, Milwaukee 104

The Detroit Pistons are sliding in the wrong direction and will try to reverse course on Wednesday, when they host the Milwaukee Bucks. Detroit has lost three consecutive games by an average of 19 points during a funk in which they have dropped six of seven contests.

The Pistons are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference - 3 1/2 games behind Miami for the final playoff spot - and weren't very proficient while being drubbed 123-94 by Toronto on Monday. "We have to get it rolling," guard Reggie Bullock told reporters. "It's a frustrating time for us. We have to try to get it rolling before it's pretty much over." Milwaukee resides in sixth place in the East and has dropped four of its last five games after suffering a 107-104 loss to Washington on Tuesday. All-Star small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 23 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, a season-best six blocked shots and three steals in the setback.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN Detroit

ABOUT THE BUCKS (33-27): Jabari Parker scored a season-high 19 points against the Wizards but is expected to be held out of the second game of a back-to-back set since he recently returned from ACL surgery on his left knee. "We've had a lot of discussions about that and it's something we're going to continue talking about and keep with the plan we have in place for right now," coach Joe Prunty told reporters. "We've got an idea and we've discussed it, and we'll leave it at that for now." Parker is beginning to hit his stride as he scored 18 points in Sunday's loss to New Orleans before making 6-of-10 shots in a season-high 27 minutes against Washington.

ABOUT THE PISTONS (28-32): Detroit is just 9-18 since losing starting point guard Reggie Jackson (ankle) in late December, and the team is hoping he will be ready to return in about two weeks. The target date is March 13 against Utah in the opener of a six-game road trip that could determine the club's playoff fate. "He is progressing," coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters of Jackson, who averages 14.6 points and 5.5 assists. "We're hopeful that those practices before the West Coast trip that we'll get him back. I think anything earlier than that would be an unexpected bonus."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Antetokounmpo averaged 25 points as the Bucks won two of this season's three previous meetings.

2. Milwaukee swingman Khris Middleton is averaging 20.3 points over his last six games.

3. Detroit All-Star C Andre Drummond has recorded 15 straight double-doubles and 45 overall.

PREDICTION: Pistons 102, Bucks 98