(Sports Network) - The resurgent Detroit Pistons hope to close out a four-game west coast road trip in positive fashion Monday when they visit the David Lee-less Golden State Warriors.
The Pistons, who started the season by losing their first five games, improved to 2-1 on their trek and won for the fourth time in five contests overall on Sunday in Sacramento when Rodney Stuckey finished with 17 points and seven assists, as Detroit edged the Kings, 100-94.
Ben Gordon had 16 points off the bench for the Pistons, while Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton ended with 14 and 13 points, respectively, in the victory.
"Winning is a cure-all, man, cures everything," said Pistons center Ben Wallace. "Meal not tasting right? Get a win, tastes a little bit better. If you don't like your teammates, get a win, you'll like 'em a little bit more."
The Warriors, meanwhile, finished a five-game road trip at 2-3 after a 79-72 loss in Milwaukee on Saturday. John Salmons finished with a game-high 26 points and Brandon Jennings added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks in that one.
Monta Ellis led Golden State with 24 points and eight assists, but fellow guard Stephen Curry made just 3-of-14 shots and ended with seven points. Reggie Williams added 11 points and five rebounds in a reserve role for the Warriors, who ended the trip with two consecutive ugly losses after Lee was injured in New York.
"Salmons and Luc Mbah a Moute both did a good job on [Ellis]," said Bucks head coach Scott Skiles. "They at least made it difficult for him to get open looks. We tried to make him play in a crowd and overall we did a good job of that."
Lee, who is averaging 14.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, had surgery Friday to clean out an infection in a cut he suffered against the Knicks on Nov. 10 and may be able to return to the lineup later this week but has been ruled out tonight.
Detroit has won six of its past seven games with Golden State, including a 102-97 win in Auburn Hills on Nov. 7.