WHEN: Tonight, 7

WHERE: KeyArena

TV/RADIO: No TV; KJR-AM/950

RECORDS: Pistons 14-9 before playing in Portland last night; Sonics 12-15 before playing at Golden State last night. Pistons won first meeting, 95-91, in Detroit on Dec. 5.

INJURY REPORT: Pistons: F Victor Alexander (knee tendinitis), F Brian Cardinal (knee tendinitis) and F Ratho Varda (back spasms) are out. Sonics: C Calvin Booth (ankle tendinitis) and C Jerome James (sprained foot) are out.

SCOUTING REPORT: Pistons were off and flying until heading West, losing to L.A. Clippers, Sacramento and Golden State before tangling with Blazers last night. ... Clifford Robinson mired in shooting slump, hitting 12 of his past 45 shots. Defense and rebounding also lacking on road trip. ... Jerry Stackhouse leads Pistons in scoring at 22.8 a game and Ben Wallace is the leading rebounder (11.1). ... Former Sonic Dana Barros starts and averages 8.6 points. ... Sonics can't forget about Chucky Atkins, who burned them with five threes in the third quarter in first meeting. But Gary Payton was even better, throwing a triple-double at the Pistons with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists.

OUTLOOK: Sonics catch Pistons at a good time with Rick Carlisle's team making its last stop on a five-game road trip and playing on back-to-back nights. But the Sonics are also playing back-to-back and are 0-8 in second games this season. Detroit also won here last year as Stackhouse went off for 41 points. Nonetheless, this looks like a spot for the Sonics to finally end their back-to-back losing streak.

LINE: Sonics by 3 1/2

P-I PICK: Sonics, 98-89

-- Jim Moore