(Sports Network) - Eastern Conference rivals meet in the Motor City Sunday when the banged-up Pistons play host to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Detroit came up empty during a short two-game road trip, dropping games in Toronto and Orlando. Most recently the Magic's Dwight Howard poured in 22 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and blocked two shots to become Orlando's all- time leader in blocks, as the Magic handled the Pistons, 110-103, at Amway Arena on Friday.

Charlie Villanueva finished with 28 points and five rebounds for the Pistons, who have lost two in a row and four of five since a season-opening win against Memphis. Rodney Stuckey added 20 points and five boards. Ben Gordon had 19 points and five assists in defeat.

"I'm proud of our guys," Detroit head coach John Kuester said after the Orlando game. "This could have easily been one of those nights where we just give up and don't compete, but that isn't us. We competed."

Kuester, who was once an assistant coach with Philadelphia, is proud because his team has been competitive without two of its top stars in guard Richard Hamilton and forward Tayshaun Prince.

Hamilton, the Pistons' leading scorer for the last seven years, has been sidelined since spraining his right ankle in the season-opening win at Memphis and is listed as day-to-day.

Prince, meanwhile, had played in 496 consecutive games before sitting out Tuesday against Orlando with a ruptured disc in his lower back. He remains out indefinitely.

The Sixers have been up and down this season most recently outlasting a short- handed New Jersey team in Philly. Lou Williams totaled 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists in that one, helping the Sixers to a 97-94 win and sending the reeling Nets to their worst start in franchise history.

Andre Iguodala scored 16 points, including a key three-pointer late in the fourth, while also tying up New Jersey's Terrence Williams on an attempt at a game-tying three-ball at the buzzer.

Jason Kapono knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points for the Sixers, who were coming off a lopsided loss to Boston.

"They played better than us and pushed us till the end and gave a really great effort. When you play like that, you'll have success in this league. That's one thing we can take from this game," Iguodala said, speaking of New Jersey's effort minus a host of regulars.

The Sixers have won four of their last five games with the Pistons, including two of the last three at The Palace of Auburn Hills.