AUBURN HILLS -- Whenever Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton is on the Basketball floor ripping around picks relentlessly, a big part of the team's offense runs through him.
That could be the case tonight when the New York Knicks visit, as it was Monday when the Orlando Magic came to town. Rasheed Wallace, another primary Pistons' offensive option, could be missing again. Wallace, who had an MRI on Tuesday morning to confirm he has no more than a strained left calf muscle, could miss tonight's game.
The Pistons center suffered the injury late in the first quarter of Monday's win against Orlando and did not return to the game. He did not practice Tuesday. Pistons coach Michael Curry is waiting to see how Wallace feels before making a decision on his role in tonight's game.
Meanwhile, Hamilton, who had 29 points, a career-high 14 assists and scored the final seven points against Orlando, can serve as the primary focal point of the offense again.
"We've been running a lot through Rip (Hamilton) since he's been in the starting lineup really, and even when he came off the bench, we ran things through him," Curry said. "But he just got more of a steady diet of it because Sheed was out."
Hamilton has been on a hot streak that coincides with his return to the starting lineup and Allen Iverson going out for two weeks with a back injury. He came into the Orlando game averaging almost 24 points and 5.3 assists in the past six games.
"He's making great Basketball decisions, drawing defenders to him and finding his teammates," Curry said. "We're also better defensively when Rip is starting."
Hamilton, who prides himself on being in great physical condition and his ability to play a lot of minutes, played 39 minutes and 22 seconds of Monday's game. In the tunnel after coming off the floor, he told those around him that for the first time, he was tired after a game.
