Detroit (34-36) has lost two in a row, and five of its past six games. Three of the team's top four scorers are out indefinitely. And the bench, which has been extended far beyond its usual scope for weeks now, is starting to show signs of falling apart.

When you throw in a grueling schedule following tonight's game, Detroit's streak of consecutive playoff appearances is in jeopardy of ending this season.

The only way the Pistons are going to get back on track and save this season from completely falling apart is if they can get some or all of their core guys back.

Allen Iverson (sore back) appears to be the one whose return is most uncertain, while Rasheed Wallace (left calf strain) and Richard Hamilton (groin) seem close to coming back, possibly as early as this weekend.

For Pistons such as Kwame Brown, their return can't come soon enough.

"We have to get guys back and guys healthy," Brown said. "We're too short-handed to go out and win the whole game. We're competing hard. We're getting close. But it's tough to pull it out."

Said Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince: "In the situation we have, we almost have to play perfect Basketball to come out with a win."

Tuesday's 99-91 loss at Chicago was one of those kind of games.

There were several stretches in which a healthy Hamilton, Wallace or Iverson probably would have been enough to get them over the hump. All three are likely out for tonight's game against the Lakers.

"You can't have a game where you're pretty much down to eight players, maybe three guys don't play even OK," Curry said. "Everybody has to play pretty good, especially when you're short-handed."

Detroit holds the seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race, one game ahead of Chicago, which is sitting in the final playoff spot. Charlotte, in ninth place, is 3 1/2 games behind Detroit.

Lakers hit road

Tonight's game will be the third leg of the Los Angeles Lakers' seven-game road trip.

The Lakers (56-14) are battling Cleveland (58-13) for the best record in the NBA.