Allen Iverson was back in uniform for the Detroit Pistons on Sunday against his former team, the Philadelphia Sixers, the Associated Press is reporting.

Iverson came off the bench after missing the last 16 games with a back injury and finished with 8 points in 21 minutes.  The Pistons won the game 101-97.

Pistons guard Allen Iverson is eager to return to the court, but won't rush back to the team before he's ready.

Iverson's back is still bothering him, but he wants to return before the regular season ends, perhaps even in Detroit's battle with Cleveland on Tuesday night.

However, he doesn't want to put his future in doubt by rushing back too soon or taking painkillers.

"That's what I don't want to have to do," Iverson said Saturday. "As bad as I want to get out there on the court, I just want to do what's right for me. I don't want to go out there and feel good while I'm out there and feel awful after the game's over and not heal at all.

"I want to be healed up by the time I get to the playoffs. And I now know serious it is because we trying to make it into the playoffs. I just want to be healthy and I have to think about my future and playing this game because I don't want this to be the last season I play."

Gilbert Arenas had 15 points and 10 assists in his first game of the season on Saturday night, a Washington loss to Detroit.

Arenas played 29 minutes, and shot 3-for-12 from the field.

With the Wizards trailing by two and four seconds left in the game, Arenas missed the second of two free throws, but chased down the miss.

He retreated to the three-point line, but missed what would have been a dramatic game-winner as Kwame Brown swatted the attempt away.

Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson participated in a full-team practice with the Pistons on Friday, which hasn't happened in over a month.

"They were all out there and they all looked good," coach Michael Curry said. "I am saying that everybody is going to play (Saturday in Washington) because I want to be positive. I told Abs (athletic trainer Mike Abdenour) to make sure he brings everybody's uniform."

Hamilton is the only player of the three that is certain to face the Wizards on Saturday night.

"Realistically, Allen probably won't play," Curry said. "The one I am most confident about is Rip. We will have to see how Allen and Sheed respond. Allen hasn't done anything for 15 games, so that's tough. Sheed and Rip both moved around real good. So hopefully with treatment and some rest they will be ready to play, at least in a limited role."

Pistons guard Richard Hamilton is expected to return to the court on Saturday against the Wizards after missing six straight games with a groin injury.

Hamilton has been sidelined a total of 14 games by the injury this season.

Detroit coach Michael Curry also indicated that forward Rasheed Wallace might return from a calf injury against Washington.

Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince said after Tuesday's loss to the Bulls that the team needs to play perfect basketball in order to win despite all their injuries.

"We really need those guys back, but at the same time we got to figure out a way; obviously with the situation that we have, that we almost got to play perfect basketball," said Prince.

Detroit has been playing without Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace as of late.

The Pistons are just a game ahead of the Bulls for the seventh seed in the East, and three games ahead of Charlotte, who is currently in ninth place.

Pistons coach Michael Curry was ejected in the final seconds of Sunday's loss to the Heat, and a few players commented on the officiating after the game.

Detroit was upset that a foul wasn't called on Dwyane Wade as Rodney Stuckey drove to the basket on the team's final possession.

"They were calling us for those same fouls all game long, riding Wade to the basket," said Tayshaun Prince. "You can see why Coach Curry got thrown out the game because of that situation, and we felt what D-Wade did to Stuckey at the end of the game, they were calling us for those fouls on the other end over the course of the game.

"Obviously you know in late-game situations they are going to try to let us play, but I think you saw the inconsistency there when Stuck drove on that play and got rode all the way to the basket, and that was pretty much the game right there."

Wade blocked Stuckey's shot, but the Pistons felt as though there was significant contact.

"I guess the ref saw it different," said Stuckey. "I thought I went to the basket aggressively while he had 10 of his fingers on me and they didn't call the foul.

"He's an All-Star so I guess you are going to get those calls."

Pistons guard Allen Iverson is getting closer to a return after two days of tests on his aching back revealed no structural or nerve damage.

"Our hope is he can get out on the court as early as Monday," coach Michael Curry said. "We are anxious to start that process of getting him back and into shape."

Iverson has been out since Feb. 26, the day after he twisted his back against the Hornets and found out he'd move to the bench.

"Yep, he's on board with it," Curry said of Iverson handling a reverse role. "I was comfortable with that from the beginning. No great player wants to come off the bench, but that's how were going to utilize him."

Pistons forward Antonio McDyess has told ESPN.com that he'll "definitely" play next season, but two more seasons is his limit.

McDyess said that it doesn't matter how Detroit's up-and-down season plays out, two more seasons is the "max" he'll play.

"Definitely one more," he added.

Richard Hamilton is known to have been upset when good buddy Chauncey Billups was dealt to Denver earlier this season, but he still wants to remain in Detroit for the long haul.

"Like I've said [before], Detroit was a city that changed my whole career around," Hamilton told ESPN's Marc Stein.

"I want to be here. I want to retire here. One day I want to get my name and my jersey put up in the rafters. I couldn't see myself playing anywhere else. No matter who's here."