Mavericks at Pistons: Game 27 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (18-8) at Detroit Pistons (5-20)
Wed. Dec. 17, 6:30 at the Palace of Auburn Hills
TV: FFSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 6 1/2


2013-14 Matchups
Jan. 26 at Dallas
Mavs 116 Pistons 106
Feb. 22 at Detroit
Mavs 113 Pistons 102

All-Time Series
Pistons 36 Mavs 30

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 113.4 (1st)
Def. Rating: 105.0 (22nd)
Point Differential: +7.2
Pistons
Offense: 101.2 (22nd)
Defense: 96.6 (29th)
Point Differential: -6.5


Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Pistons
PG: Brandon Jennings
SG: Kentavios Caldwell-Pope
SF: Kyle Singler
PF: Josh Smith
C: Andre Drummond

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 20.5
RPG: Chandler, 11.6
APG: Ellis, 4.6
PER: Wright, 26.2
Win Shares: Chandler, 3.8
Pistons
PPG: Monroe, 15.0
RPG: Drummond, 11.9
APG: Jennings, 6.2
PER: Drummond, Monroe, 18.1
Win Shares: Drummond, 1.6

Of Note

• The Mavs have won 5 in a row and 10 out of 11 against the Pistons.
• By holding the Knicks to 87 points, the  Mavericks broke a streak of 11 games in a row of allowing at least 100 points.
• Charlie Villanueva returns to Detroit after spending the previous 5 seasons playing for the Pistons. He averaged 9.5 points per game in 256 games in a Pistons uniform.
• J.J. Barea now leads the league with an assist to turnover ratio of 5 to 1 (95 assists, 19 turnovers).
• Dallas is 4-1 this season on the second night of back-to-backs. They are 3-0 on the second night of  road-road back-to-backs.