Tonight's game against Utah will be the Pistons' last at home for nine days, as they embark on a five-game, seven-day trip.

The Pistons will see the Jazz -- i.e. John Stockton and Karl Malone -- again Tuesday in Salt Lake City. The Pistons haven't won there since the 1988-89 season -- and they've never won at the Delta Center.

Team president Joe Dumars knows the importance of this trip, but he emphasized it won't shatter the Pistons' confidence if things go badly.

"You win games you're supposed to win, especially at home," Dumars said Thursday. "If we can somehow find a way to win the game tomorrow night . . . now you're talking about going on the road 11 games above .500, and you can relax and play ball. It's not going to make or break our season, but it's a very important trip."

The last time the Pistons went west they lost all five games, and they are 1-9 on the road against Western Conference teams.