Zeljko Rebraca needed ointment on his back, required massages during most time-outs, and at one point had a hot towel tucked under his jersey. In between treatment for spasms, he scored an NBA career-high 17 points.

His performance Saturday night against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden helped the Pistons improve to 6-3 on the road and 11-5 overall, prompting one teammate to ponder the possibilities of how good Rebraca might be.

"I think by the end of the season he'll be one of the top 10 centers in the league," Jerry Stackhouse said. "He's a big, big threat for us -- that's why we throw it down there for him. He's a big target. He can shoot the ball, he can make plays, he can hit free throws when he's fouled."