Detroit at Minnesota (8 p.m. EST). Ben Wallace and the Pistons try to stop Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves, who have won seven of their last eight.

STARS

Thursday

_ Peja Stojakovic, Kings, had 37 points and 10 rebounds to lead Sacramento to a 95-89 victory over the Cavaliers.

_ Michael Finley, Mavericks, scored 31 points in a 106-87 victory over the Lakers.

UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY

The Lakers have lost nine straight on the road, their longest skid since dropping 10 in a row in 1963-1964. The Lakers lost in Dallas 106-87 on Thursday night.

STRONG IN DEFEAT

Cleveland's Carlos Boozer had 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a 95-89 loss to the Kings on Thursday night. ... The Lakers' Devean George had 24 points and six rebounds, but Los Angeles lost to the Mavericks, 106-87.

BARON HURTING

Hornets guard Baron Davis will miss two more games with a sprained left ankle. He was injured during the fourth quarter of Monday's game at Minnesota. Davis already sat out Wednesday's 92-86 loss to Philadelphia.

FRIENDLY CONFINES

The Mavericks improved to 19-3 at home this season with their 106-87 victory over the Lakers on Thursday night.

SPEAKING

``That's where it all comes down to: Have you gotten any better since you were drafted here? Are you showing that you're going to make this franchise better in the near future? Have you made any steps? And I don't see a lot of steps in a lot of players that have been in this game three-plus years.'' _ The Bulls' Scottie Pippen on the slow development of his younger teammates.