(Sports Network) - The sliding Washington Wizards (web | news) hope to put the brakes on a five-game losing streak tonight, when they host the Detroit Pistons from the Verizon Center.

The Wizards are caught in a funk since kicking off the 2009-10 campaign with a 2-1 record, and recently dropped a 90-76 decision to the Miami Heat on Tuesday from AmericanAirlines Arena. Dwyane Wade scorched the Wizards for 41 points, while Gilbert Arenas had 21 points and eight assists to pace Washington.

"It's not something he says, he's more of a do-er," Wizards head coach Flip Saunders said of Wade. "He just goes out there and starts getting it done. That's the type of player he is. He can do that."

Caron Butler ended with 19 points and seven boards, while Brendan Haywood posted 13 points and 11 rebounds in defeat. Andray Blatche had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. In injury news for the Wizards, forward Antawn Jamison (shoulder/illness) and guard Mike Miller (shoulder) are listed as questionable for Saturday's game.

Jamison has yet to play this season after he averaged 22.2 points and 8.9 rebounds in 81 contests a year ago.

Detroit, meanwhile, has won back-to-back games since a two-game losing streak, and is coming off Wednesday's 98-75 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Charlie Villanueva led all scores with 30 points and Ben Gordon added 22 points and eight assists in the win.

Rodney Stuckey finished with 16 points, seven assists and five boards, while Will Bynum scored 16 points off the bench for Detroit, which was able to build off an 88-81 win over Philadelphia on Sunday. The Pistons improved to 4-4 this season.

Pistons rookie head coach John Kuester beat mentor Larry Brown for the first time. Kuester was an assistant under the Hall of Fame coach when the Pistons executed Brown's 'play the right way' philosophy which resulted in an NBA title over the Los Angeles Lakers in 2003-04. They also worked together in Philadelphia.

"I was very proud of our players' ability to focus and lock in to what we wanted to get accomplished defensively tonight," said Kuester. "It was very impressive. The big thing was the way we closed the second quarter and how we started the third quarter."

The Pistons continued to play without top scorers Richard Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (back). The two are out indefinitely.

Detroit went 3-1 against Washington in 2008-09 and has won five of the past seven meetings between the teams. The Pistons have also won 10 of their previous 14 trips to DC.



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