(Sports Network) - Two teams on opposite ends of the Central Division spectrum collide tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills, where the Cleveland Cavaliers will pay a visit to the homestanding Detroit Pistons.

The division-leading Cavaliers are five games ahead of the last-place Pistons and have won two straight and seven of eight games, including Saturday's 97-91 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers. Superstar LeBron James led the way with 32 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and Mo Williams added 18 points, eight boards and five assists for Cleveland.

J.J. Hickson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas netted 14 and 13 points, respectively, in a winning effort.

"Andy (Varejao) and [Zydrunas Ilgauskas] did a nice job starting us off on the defensive end of the floor, and then Mo [Williams] hit some big shots," Cavs head coach Mike Brown said. "Everyone was on a string. Everyone helped one another and trusted one another. It was great to see."

Cleveland will also visit Charlotte on the road trip and is 5-2 as the guest this season. It is hoping that newcomer Shaquille O'Neal can make a healthy return to the floor Wednesday after missing the past five games with a shoulder injury. The team went 4-1 without O'Neal, who is averaging 11.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest this season.

Detroit will open a three-game homestand on a sour note, as it has dropped five straight and went 0-4 on a recent road trip out west. In Sunday's 117-91 loss at Phoenix, Charlie Villanueva and DaJuan Summers each had 13 points for the Pistons, who continue to play without Richard Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (back).

Ben Gordon had 10 points in a losing effort.

"This is probably the most up-tempo team in the league," Gordon said of the Suns. "We knew that coming in. It's tough on any night, but especially on the last game of a road trip. With a back-to-back it's not going to be easy. They came out and did what they're supposed to do, and I thought we lacked energy on the defensive end."

The Pistons will also host the Clippers and Hawks on the residency and are 3-2 at The Palace this season.

Cleveland took three of four matchups with Detroit a year ago and has won the last three in the series. The Pistons, however, are 13-3 in the past 16 meetings as the host.