12-03-2005, 12:13 AM
Quote:Brown makes return to Detroit with Knicks
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New York (5-9) at Detroit (11-2) 8:00 pm EST
AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- In a date the Detroit Pistons undoubtedly had circled on the calendar, their former coach Larry Brown and the New York Knicks come to town Friday.
Brown, who led Detroit to NBA Finals appearances the last two seasons and to the 2004 title, brings a young squad struggling to find its identity here Friday. Brown's departure from the "Motor City" was not received well by Pistons owner Bill Davidson, who had some choice words upon his move.
Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 28 points and Stephon Marbury had 18 and eight assists in New York's 109-101 comeback win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.
Although they have won two of their last three games, the Knicks have dropped seven of nine on the road. Rookie Channing Frye has been a bright spot, averaging 14.2 points and 6.1 rebounds this season, while Marbury is averaging more than 19 points in his last six games.
Flip Saunders has made an immediate impact in his first season with the Pistons. He has guided Detroit to the league's best record and was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month on Thursday.
Detroit has held nine of 13 opponents under 90 points and is averaging nearly 114 at home.
Richard Hamilton scored 30 points and Chauncey Billups added 20 in Wednesday's 93-83 victory over the New Jersey Nets as the Pistons raised their record to 4-1 against Atlantic Division opponents.
Billups has played well under Saunders, leading the NBA with a 5.30 assist-to-turnover ratio. Forward Rasheed Wallace is just seven rebounds away from 5,000 in his career.