Pistons-Nets Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN

(AP) -- The struggling Brooklyn Nets have had a rough go without All-Star center Brook Lopez, and they could be in for an even bumpier road ahead without another key piece.

Deron Williams is listed as doubtful heading into Sunday's home matchup against the last-place Detroit Pistons.

Williams limped off the court in the second quarter of Friday's 95-91 loss at Cleveland with a strained right calf and didn't return. The three-time All-Star, averaging 15.6 points and a team-high 6.8 assists, has appeared in all 25 games for Brooklyn (10-15) after missing 18 last season due to ankle issues.

Williams' absence could prove especially costly for a Nets team that's averaged 89.5 points in dropping three straight and six of eight. Brooklyn has played its last seven games without Lopez, who has already been ruled out for Sunday.

The Nets figure to lean on Joe Johnson all the more if Williams can't go. The 14-year veteran finished with 26 points against the Cavaliers for his second-highest mark this season, but Brooklyn was outscored 24-8 at the foul line.

"We have to stop fouling," coach Lionel Hollins said. "It's always the little things. ... When you break it down into the little parts, you see it's the little things that haunt you."

Johnson went off for 34 points in a 102-90 victory at Detroit on Nov. 1 in Brooklyn's second game of the season. Kevin Garnett added season highs of 18 points and 14 rebounds as the Nets improved to 6-3 in the series since 2012-13.

The Pistons (5-22) are still trying to right the ship after losing three straight and 16 of 18. Detroit is one of the NBA's lowest scoring teams with 94.0 points per game and ranks 29th with a free-throw percentage of 69.7.

"We don't expect things to come overnight," center Andre Drummond said. "Nobody likes to lose. We're going to continue to work hard each and every night. We're just going to keep fighting."

The Pistons' woes continued with Friday's 110-100 loss to Toronto. Brandon Jennings broke out of his slump with 22 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 18, but Detroit gave up a season-high 60 in the paint.

"The story of this game is that we showed absolutely no defensive will or resolve whatsoever," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We didn't show any inclination to stop them. Our last three games have been against good teams, and it is very accurate to say our defense has been exposed."

The Pistons have allowed a combined 340 points during their skid for their worst three-game stretch this season.

Jennings had been limited to an average of 5.8 points on 24.6 percent from the floor over an eight-game stretch before shooting 8 of 18 against the Raptors. He's scored a combined 23 points on 5-of-21 shooting in his last two visits to Brooklyn.

Drummond is averaging 18.8 points on 67.4 percent shooting and 15.3 boards over a four-game stretch against the Nets. He'll try to help contain fellow center Mason Plumlee, who's averaging 17.4 points on 64.3 percent shooting in his last five games for Brooklyn.

Plumlee is shooting an NBA-worst 43.0 percent at the foul line, just ahead of Drummond's mark of 44.9. Pistons forward Josh Smith has also struggled, shooting 46.7 percent.