Playing in New Orleans for the first time since the botched trade, Chandler and the Hornets look to build on a solid performance Wednesday night when they meet the reeling Detroit Pistons, hoping to avoid their first eight-game losing streak in more than 14 years.

Chandler was a key member of the Hornets' breakout season in 2007-08, when he made a career-high 79 starts and averaged a double-double for the first time in seven NBA seasons to help New Orleans set a franchise record with 56 wins.

Despite Chandler's impact, New Orleans (33-22) was ready to part with him in a trade with Oklahoma City last week before the deal was rescinded because of medical reasons.

Chandler's teammates, who were critical of the trade in the first place, were glad to have him back Monday night. The 7-foot-1 center scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and added 10 rebounds in a 112-105 victory at Sacramento.

New Orleans shot 50.6 percent, recorded 25 assists on 40 field goals and outrebounded the Kings 46-35.

"It's good to be back," Chandler told the Hornets' official Web site.

Chandler hadn't played since Jan. 19 because of a sprained left ankle and then the trade fiasco. The Hornets, who went 7-9 in his absence, hope his return helps them reclaim their status among the Western Conference's elite.

"(The trade) was something that doesn't happen every day," said All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who had 27 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and three steals Monday. "But we got our big fella back. He is a guy that knows the system and we know what to expect from him night in and night out. We welcomed him back with open arms."

The Pistons (27-28) look like they'll have a harder time climbing back toward the top of the East.

A conference finalist each of the last six seasons, Detroit has lost seven in a row for the first time since Feb. 21-March 2, 2003. The team hasn't suffered a longer skid since it dropped eight straight from Dec. 21, 1994-Jan. 8, 1995.

Tuesday night's 103-91 loss at Miami dropped the Pistons under .500 for the first time since they were 4-5 on Nov. 17, 2006.

After falling to the Heat, Allen Iverson said the Pistons "have no consistency," then elaborated on their recent defensive struggles.

"We can't stop anybody," Iverson said. "The way we're playing we have to shoot 60 percent to win a basketball game. Everybody's always going to look at the offensive end and scoring points. We scored enough points to win the basketball game. But we just can't get stops consistently. We can't get stops when we need them."

That was Detroit's problem in its 91-85 home loss to New Orleans on Jan. 17. The Pistons took a two-point lead with 4:48 remaining, but got outscored 12-4 the rest of the way.

The Pistons, though, have won their last four road games against the Hornets, including two that were played in Oklahoma City while New Orleans was in the early stages of its recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

Pistons guard Richard Hamilton is averaging 24.8 points and shooting 55.6 percent from the field during that winning streak.