(My Sportsbook) - The Detroit Pistons hope to build on their first win in nearly three weeks this afternoon when they finish up a five-game road trip in Beantown against the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics.

Detroit will also aim to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the C's. who have already beaten the Pistons three times this season and five straight times overall.

The Pistons earned their first win of their trek in Orlando on Friday when Richard Hamilton scored 19 of his 31 points in the second half, including nine in a pivotal third quarter, and Detroit snapped a season-high eight-game skid with a 93-85 triumph over the Magic.

Hamilton, who was 11-of-18 from the floor with six assists and three steals, appeared in the starting lineup for the first time in 16 games and was coming off a 24-point effort in Wednesday's loss to New Orleans.

Rodney Stuckey contributed 22 points and Tayshaun Prince 17 for Detroit, which was without All-Star guard Allen Iverson. Iverson left Wednesday's game after playing only 8:16 due to back stiffness and returned to Detroit Friday for an MRI exam that came back negative.

But, the bigger news was head coach Michael Curry's decision to replace Iverson with Hamilton in the starting lineup and that move had been decided prior to Iverson leaving the team to get his back looked at.

The move paid off, at least for one night, as the Pistons snapped a four-game slide on the road, improved to 14-14 as the visitor on the year and found the win column for the first time since a 126-121 overtime victory at Milwaukee on February 7.

Antonio McDyess grabbed 13 rebounds and scored eight, while enigmatic center Rasheed Wallace added 10 and six, respectively, after it was originally thought he would be serving a one-game suspension. Wallace was ejected from Wednesday's loss for throwing a towel into the stands and another one onto the court. Wallace, though, had two technical fouls from earlier in the season taken away by the league on Thursday and avoided missing time. He did, however, garner a $25,000 fine by the league on Friday for his latest antics.

Iverson remains doubtful for today's game.

Things have gone much smoother for the Celtics, who opened a short two-game homestand on Friday by topping the Indiana Pacers, 104-99. Ray Allen scored a game-high 30 points to pace Boston in the game, Stephon Marbury's debut with the club.

Allen shot a blistering 11-of-16 from the field, as the Celtics won for the fifth time in seven games. Paul Pierce played despite a dislocated right thumb and scored 16 points, while Rajon Rondo provided 17 assists to go with his three points.

Marbury, who received a standing ovation when he entered the game, played 12 minutes and recorded eight points on 4-of-6 shooting. The team signed Marbury Friday after he agreed to a buyout with the New York Knicks and was subsequently waived earlier in the week. He played for the first time since January 11, 2008.

Glen Davis provided 18 points, while Leon Powe had 14 for Boston, which improved to 25-4 at TD Banknorth Garden.

On the injury front for the Celtics, star forward Kevin Garnett remains sidelined with a strained right knee. Forward Brian Scalabrine (concussion) and guard Gabe Pruitt (suspension) will also be unavailable to Boston coach Doc Rivers this afternoon.