CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Luke Kennard entered the starting lineup for the Pistons on Monday against the 76ers and his performance was stunning.

Detroit fell 116-102 and extended their losing streak to five games, but Kennard scored a career-high 28 points. The Pistons have been depleted by injuries lately, but Pistons coach Dwane Casey believes Kennard can continue to show that he is the player the franchise always knew he could be.

"He was hurt all summer, hurt all through training camp, he came back and started to get his sea legs and then he gets hurt again," Casey said Wednesday. "Hopefully he stays healthy and continues, but this is the Luke we thought was going to be there. Now he's coming around."

Kennard has been limited to eight games this season because of injuries. Casey added that establishing a rhythm would by key to the second-year guard's development.

"It's hard to come back from injury and be 100 percent, in rhythm, in focus and understand the speed of the game," Casey said. "You want him to have a 28-point night every night, but realistically, probably not going to happen. But again, the growth and building his habits are going to be real really important."

Detroit will take on a hot 13-13 Hornets team Wednesday. Charlotte topped the Pistons, 113-103, in mid-November.