(Sports Network) - The hapless Detroit Pistons hope to put the brakes on their worst start in 30 years when they host the Charlotte Bobcats at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Josh Smith finished with a team-high 22 points and 11 rebounds and Al Horford chipped in 18 points on Wednesday, as the Atlanta Hawks beat the Pistons, 94-85.
Ben Gordon finished with 22 points and Tayshaun Prince added 17 points in the loss. Charlie Villanueva added 14 points in a reserve role for the Pistons, who are off to their worst start, 0-5, since 1980-81 and are the only winless team in the Eastern Conference.
Detroit kicked off the '80-81 campaign at 0-7.
"I felt our guys played their hearts out and I'm very pleased with their effort," said Pistons head coach John Kuester. "Ben (Gordon) had a very good game tonight. Even though we didn't come up with the win, I was impressed with how we battled, we just have to make sure we execute down the stretch."
Detroit guard Richard Hamilton, who missed his second game in a row with a foot injury against the Hawks, is questionable for tonight, along with backup point guard Will Bynum (hamstring).
The Bobcats, meanwhile, earned their first win on Wednesday when D.J. Augustin made a pair of free throws with 30.9 seconds remaining, as Charlotte edged the New Jersey Nets, 85-83, at the Prudential Center.
Augustin ended with five points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Bobcats, who won for the first time in four tries this season. Boris Diaw finished with 24 points, while Gerald Wallace had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the victors.
"We still have some issues, but the effort was great," coach Larry Brown told the Bobcats' website. "We had a lot of people make plays and give us a chance to win."
Forward Eduardo Najera (sports hernia surgery) and center Kwame Brown (sprained left ankle), who both missed the game against New Jersey, are questionable for tonight's contest.
The Pistons dropped two of three to the Bobcats last season but won the only matchup at The Palace, a 98-75 rout last November. Detroit is 8-2 all-time versus the Bobcats on its home floor.