Gameday: Wolves vs. Detroit

Last update: March 31, 2008 - 11:17 PM

Preview: While the Western Conference playoff race won't be determined until the 11th hour on the final day, the Eastern Conference already is firming up, with the 52-21 Pistons comfortably set as the second seed behind Boston and ahead of Orlando. They clinched their fourth consecutive Central Division title Thursday against Miami. ... Former Wolves coach Flip Saunders already ranks second all-time in Pistons' coaching victories with 167. He needs only 300 more to catch Chuck Daly. ...The two teams begin and conclude their season series, all in April, starting tonight and ending with an April 15 game at Detroit, the Wolves' second-to-last game.

Player to watch: Ex-Wolves guard Chauncey Billups, named an NBA All-Star for the third consecutive season, has averaged 20.5 points and 7.5 assists in the past four games. He and Pistons boss Joe Dumars are the only players in team history to make 800 three-pointers. Billups is second on the team in scoring with a 17.6-point average, one-tenth of a point behind Richard Hamilton.

Numbers: The Pistons are 31-1 when they score 100 or more points.

Injuries: Wolves guard Sebastian Telfair continued to work on his own Monday and did not practice with the team. He has not played since spraining his ankle March 14, but Wolves coach Randy Wittman said he remains hopeful Telfair will play again this season. Hamilton is listed as a game-time decision because of a sore left hip.

JERRY ZGODA

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