Detroit Pistons March Recap: Injuries Decimate Team

March was a rough month for the Detroit Pistons team.

They started it out with a huge win over the defending champion Boston Celtics, but quickly fell into a skid that has left them clinging on to the last playoff spot in the East.

In the midst of it all, they had to deal with the death of their long time owner Bill Davidson and learned that former coach Chuck Daly is fighting cancer.

After Richard Hamilton's return, it looked like the team was finally moving in the right direction—but then Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace and Rodney Stuckey all suffered injuries of their own.

To make matters worse, Hamilton re-aggravated his injury and had to miss some games.

At first the team seemed to thrive despite the losses. The young bench players really stepped up and the team was playing with a lot of energy. This week the starters returned, and once again the team is in a free fall.

Pistons 105, Celtics 95

After breaking their eight-game losing streak in Orlando the night before, the Pistons headed into Boston with a little more confidence and managed another improbable win. The win was the Pistons' first against the Celtics this season after three previous losses.

Detroit played with high energy on both ends of the floor and Will Bynum and Walter Hermann had strong games off the bench. Richard Hamilton put up 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

The win helped put Detroit back in the playoff race, as they once again reached the .500 mark.

Pistons 100, Nuggets 95

Former Piston Chauncey Billups scored a season-high 34 points in his homecoming at the Palace but it was Detroit who walked away with the win. The Pistons came back in the third quarter from a 11-point deficit and never looked back.

Iverson was on the injury list so couldn't help carry his team to the win over his former one. Antonio McDyess was the star of the game, putting up 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Pistons 108, Warriors 91

The Pistons gained their fourth-straight win against a eight-man Warriors roster due to multiple injuries and illness.

Coach Michael Curry used the game as a breather for his starters lowering their minutes and allowing his bench to take over. Jason Maxiell, in particular, seemed to thrive on the extra playing time.

Hawks 87, Pistons 83

It was a rough game for the Pistons. Over and over, they would gain a sizable lead over Atlanta—but then the Hawks would come right back and tie it up.

Detroit's 13 turnovers came back to hurt them late, allowing the Hawks' to get the win. The game was Wallace's 1,000th game, but ended with him coming down on Mcdyess' leg and twisting his ankle.

Pistons 98, Magic 94

Wallace left the game early with a strained calf but Kwame Brown stepped up in his place and helped Detroit get the win. He tied his season-high of 10 points while Hamilton had a career-high 14 assists and McDyess had a season-high 18 rebounds.

Knicks 116, Pistons 111

It was a hard-played game on both ends of the floor, but the Pistons saw the game slip away from them in overtime. Detroit's 15 turnovers hurt them and the loss of Wallace really hurt on the three point end. New York's Nate Robinson drew a number of fouls and ended with 30 points.

Pistons 99, Raptors 95

Another game, another overtime but this time the Pistons walked away with the win. Hamilton once again broke his assist record with 16 and put up 24 points. Both Hermann and Aaron Afflalo put up solid games off the bench. Afterwards, the game the team was rocked by the news of the death of owner Davidson.

Grizzlies 89, Pistons 84

The night began with a moment of silence for Davidson and the Pistons sporting black arm bands in his memory, but unfortunately ended in another rough Sunday loss. After this loss, the Pistons fell to 2-11 on Sundays.

With the death, the injuries and back-to-back overtime games the Pistons came out with no fire and seemed to sleepwalk through the game. The game was Brown's best of the season though with his six points, 13 rebounds and six assists.

Mavericks 103, Pistons 101

It was the Will Bynum-Arron Afflalo show in Dallas with Hamilton missing the game due to injury. Bynum had a career high 19 points and Afflalo put up 16. Unfortunately the game came down to the final seconds and ended in a loss.

Houston 106, Pistons 101

This time it was a double-overtime game that resulted in a loss for Detroit. The loss saw the Pistons once again drop below .500 and threatened their playoff position.

Pistons 108, Clippers 90

With Stuckey fighting the flu the Pistons were down to a nine-man roster but still eked out the win. Bynum once again stepped up and had a career-high 22 points and six assists. Mcdyess had a season-high 24 points and 17 rebounds while Tayshaun Prince had a career-high 12 assists and Brown added a career-high 14 points.

Heat 101, Pistons 96

The Pistons led the game through the first 46 minutes but then let their lead slip away. A questionable foul on Stuckey resulted in Coach Curry being ejected and allowed Dwayne Wade to continue his scoring run.

Wade ended with 39 points. Stuckey returned with 24 points.

Bulls 99, Pistons 91

The Bulls took an early 11-point lead and never had to worry from there. Detroit struggled offensively and allowed Chicago to creep up on them in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Lakers 92, Pistons 77

L.A. paid the Pistons back for the previous loss with Kobe Bryant putting up 30. The Pistons kept coming back thanks to Bynum's career high 25 points and 11 assists but the stronger Lakers team were able to shut them down.

It was Detroit's third-straight loss.

Pistons 98, Wizards 96

Hamilton made his return and carried his team to the win. His 31 points stopped their losing skid, and helped the Pistons inch closer to Chicago for the seventh playoff spot.

Pistons 101, 76ers 97

Iverson made his return, but it was once again Bynum who took over the game, scoring 13 of the Pistons 22 points in the fourth-quarter points.

After the game, Iverson spoke about his new role: "I thought about the big picture and that’s helping my teammates get a win and the more I thought about that, the more I relished the challenge of having to come off the bench.”

Cavaliers 79, Pistons 73

For a while it looked like the Pistons would once again put a stop to Cleveland's win streak, but then the game fell apart. Detroit turned the ball over four times in the fourth quarter and their shooting went cold.

They did a good job of slowing down LeBron James, but they let him take over late. Wallace made his return and then proceeded to argue a late foul call, resulting in his 16th technical foul of the season and guaranteed one-game suspension.

Nets 111, Pistons 98

After the late loss to Cleveland, the Pistons didn't even seem to try in New Jersey. Missing Wallace because of his suspension and struggling to adjust to having Iverson coming off the bench, the team played sluggishly throughout the loss.

The game could easily be the one that costs them their playoff spot.