Pistons Schedule 2012: Detroit To Face Pair Of Playoff-Bound Teams To Finish Season

The 2011-12 NBA season has not been entirely kind to the Detroit Pistons, but fans and players alike can each take solace in the fact that only two games remain until this year becomes a thing of the past.

The Pistons will share the floor with two up-and-coming Eastern Conference playoff teams in Philadelphia and Indiana to close out the year over the next week, affording Detroit a chance to play the role of spoiler two final times before throwing in the towel on the season.

With such a tight race for lottery ping pong balls still underway however, it will be interesting to see what type of lineup the Pistons opt to put on the floor to close out the season. Because with Indiana already locked into the East's No. 3 seed, it's conceivable that Detroit could face the Pacers' second unit on Monday.

The last few months of basketball have been filled with endless frustration for every aspect of the Pistons' organization. Closing the year out strong with a pair of victories over two playoff teams won't win head coach Lawrence Frank any awards, but it just might set the tone for what to expect when next season rolls around.

Remaining Schedule
Monday, April 23rd, at Indiana, 7:00 pm ET
Thursday, April 26th, vs. Philadelphia, 8:00 pm ET

For more on the Pistons, head over to Detroit Bad Boys. For more NBA coverage, be sure to check out SB Nation's NBA hub.

Pistons Vs. Raptors Final: Detroit Earns 76-73 Win

There was little more on the line than pride and lottery position on Sunday night, but the Detroit Pistons all but assured themselves of a 10th place finish in the 15-team Eastern Conference on Sunday night. Detroit entered the night just a game ahead of the Toronto Raptors in the standings, but the Pistons' 76-73 victory moves them two games in front of Toronto and assures the Raptors of a slightly better chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery.

Brandon Knight and Ben Gordon each had 19 points as Detroit prevailed in the low scoring affair. Rodney Stuckey hit one of two free throws with 17 seconds left to put Detroit in front 75-73. Alan Anderson then missed a three-point attempt with eight seconds remaining allowing Gordon to rebound the ball.

Gordon then hit one of two free throws for the final margin, as Toronto's last gasp three point attempt was off the mark.

For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.

Pistons Vs. Raptors Score Update: Detroit Trails 34-29 After Low-Scoring 1st Half

In a game with serious lottery implications, the Detroit Pistons trail Toronto 33-29 after two quarters of play in a startlingly-low scoring affair. The two teams combined to produce just 29 points in the opening 12 minutes, as all five Pistons starters have been completely unable to find a rhythm offensively.

Forward Tayshaun Prince has paced Detroit in scoring with five points, but is 1-for-4 shooting with a pair of turnovers. In search of his 30th double-double of the year, Detroit big man Greg Monroe also has five points in addition to 10 rebounds at the break, despite also struggling with his shot. Monroe posted a dominant 30-point, 14-rebound performance back against the Raptors on February 22, and is a safe bet to snag a double-double at some point in the second half.

For the Pistons, the lackluster start represented their lowest scoring first half since all the way back in 2008, which is quite an embarrassment. Detroit shooters are just 27% from the field and 60% from the free-throw line, creating a perfect storm on a night when the team is a woeful 0-for-6 from behind the arc. Even though Toronto holds a slim five-point lead, it's hard to imagine either one of these franchises truly wanting to win this game knowing the adverse effect it might have.

For more on the Pistons, be sure to check out Detroit Bad Boys. For more NBA news and analysis, head over to SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Standings 2012: Pistons Aim To Wrap Up Tenth Spot In Eastern Conference

The shortened 2012 NBA regular season is nearing its conclusion, and an inconsistent Detroit Pistons team looks to have found a home as the 10th or 11th best team in the East.

The Pistons, who are a frustrating 23-40 on the year with three games remaining, currently sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, one full game ahead of Toronto, and one and a half ahead of both Cleveland and New Jersey. Despite the Pistons' 19-20 record over their last 39 games, a woeful 4-20 start to the season has made it nearly impossible for Lawrence Frank's team to ascend the standings.

Even though Frank's team has played much more inspired basketball than some of its closest competitors in the standings as of late, Detroit is still a full seven games out of the ninth spot, which is hard to swallow for a franchise that has been an absolute fixture in the playoffs in recent years.

For more on the Pistons, head over to Detroit Bad Boys. For more NBA coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA hub.

Raptors Vs. Pistons: Detroit Faces Toronto With Little But Lottery Luck On The Line

Detroit has three games remaining until the end of the season.