2-20 Detroit 84 Milwaukee 83

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Detroit 84 Milwaukee 83

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Just like last season, the Detroit Pistons took the Eastern Conference's best record into the All-Star break.

They'll try to get off to a strong start after the break for the second straight season Tuesday night when they visit the injury-plagued Milwaukee Bucks.

Detroit (32-19) is 10 games worse than last season's 42-9 mark at the break, but it's still good enough for the best record in the East. The Pistons, who have reached the conference finals four straight seasons, won their first five games after the break last season en route to a league-best 64 victories.

Last year, Detroit failed to reach the NBA finals for the third straight season when it fell to Miami. The Pistons are in position for a similar run after they were expected to take a bit of a step back this season without four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace, who left for Chicago.

Pistons-Bucks Preview

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MILWAUKEE, Feb. 20 (AP)-- The Detroit Pistons simply don't get rattled on the road, even against a desperate team that just got its star player back from injury.

Detroit withstood a second-half rally by Michael Redd and the Milwaukee Bucks, holding on for an 84-83 victory Tuesday night after a missed layup by Mo Williams just before the final horn.

"We stay poised down the stretch no matter what the score is, no matter who the opponent is,'' Pistons guard Chauncey Billups said. "We get what we want.''

Billups led the Pistons with 19 points, and helped hound Williams into his missed shot on the final play.

NBA.com Pistons Survive Against Bucks