Detroit
Pistons

Updated: January 9, 2009, 4:40 AM EST

The Pistons will play Denver for the first time since Billups and Antonio McDyess were traded for Allen Iverson two games into the season. McDyess returned to the Pistons last month after reaching a buyout with the Nuggets.

Forward Tayshaun Prince began his NBA career during the 2002-03 season, the same year that Billups signed with Detroit as a free agent. Billups' career blossomed with the Pistons, as he won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award in 2004 and made the All-Star team the last three seasons.

"I guess it will all set in when that ball goes up," Prince said. "Of course, it's going to be emotional, but it's hard to figure how things will be."

The Pistons struggled the first two months after the trade but just had a seven-game winning streak snapped. Iverson is averaging a career-low 18.2 points and 5.6 assists in 28 games with Detroit.

"I think it worked out pretty good for us," Wallace said. "(Iverson) is becoming that leader, that player that coach Mike (Curry) wants him to be. The one good thing about it, (Iverson) has no problem reducing his shots.

"(I'm not) saying he can't still average that 27 to 30 points a game because he (darn) sure can. But that's where he's shown maturity in his game. He came in here and said, 'OK, I don't have to take all those shots and I don't have to average 30 for my team to win.' He knows he has other players around him."

TRAIL BLAZERS 84, PISTONS 83: Guard Allen Iverson got another chance to make a game-winning shot but this time, he didn't deliver. Iverson, who scored on a late goaltending call to beat the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday, missed a 17-footer in the waning seconds as the Pistons' seven-game winning streak ended on Wednesday night. Travis Outlaw scored on a short, fade-away jumper with 8.9 seconds left on the Trail Blazers' final possession for the go-ahead basket. Iverson and Rodney Stuckey combined for 10 turnovers as the Pistons' offense stalled in the second half. Detroit, which led by as much as 14, scored just 34 second-half points and failed to contain Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge (26 points).

The pain comes from the fifth metatarsal bone on the side of his right foot. He hurt it earlier in the season, then had it kicked by Yi Jianlian of the New Jersey Nets on New Year's Eve.

Wallace admits that if this were the playoffs, he would fight through the pain and play.

"I am not worried," Wallace said. "It's still early in the season. If this injury occurred later, when we were trying to get ready for the playoffs, then I would probably be skipping these days off and go at it. But this is going to be alright."

Wallace passed up on an opportunity to rip his former team. The Portland Trail Blazers recently retired jersey No. 30 -- the one Wallace wore there -- but they honored former Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter and Bobby Gross.

--Guard Rodney Stuckey will stay on the West Coast an extra day after the Pistons travel back from Utah late Saturday night.

On Sunday, Stuckey's alma mater, Eastern Washington University, is retiring his jersey (No. 3). Stuckey has the school's highest scoring average (24.3). He ranks fourth on its all-time scoring list despite playing just two seasons.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "A great player will adjust to his surroundings. It would have different if he came in here and stayed pig-headed. But he's shown his maturity and how badly he wants to win." -- Center Rasheed Wallace, on how Allen Iverson has fit in with the Pistons.

PLAYER NOTES:

--F Tayshaun Prince nearly carried the Pistons past Portland with 26 points and eight rebounds. Prince is averaging 18.8 points and 8.4 rebounds over the last eight games to make a case for All-Star consideration. Head coach Michael Curry says Prince has been the team's best player this season.

--F Antonio McDyess, who is playing despite sore ribs and a left thigh bruise, has pulled down 28 rebounds in the last two games. McDyess is the team's most consistent rebounder, even though he does not start.

--G Arron Afflalo has been battling flu-like symptoms in recent days. But with Richard Hamilton sidelined, he hasn't missed any practice time or game action. He had five points in 12 minutes on Wednesday.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Richard Hamilton has a left groin strain that has sidelined him for six games. He is not expected to play the remainder of the Pistons' four-game West Coast trip.

--C Rasheed Wallace has a right foot injury that has forced him to miss the last three games. Wallace is questionable to play on Friday against Denver.