Pistons take 2-0 series lead over Magic
(AP)Updated: 2007-04-24 10:25 Detroit's balance was too much for Orlando's two-player attack.
Richard Hamilton scored 22 points, one of four Pistons with at least 17, to lead Detroit to a 98-90 victory over the Magic on Monday night and a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points and Grant Hill had 21 for Orlando to prevent it from being a rout, but their teammates -- particularly Dwight Howard -- didn't do enough to give the Magic any shot at evening the best-of-seven series.
Howard was held to eight points and didn't score in the second half until the final minute, when the game was essentially over.
 Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton, right, shoots over the defense of Orlando Magic guard Keyon Dooling during the fourth quarter of their basketball playoff game at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich., Monday, April 23, 2007. Hamilton finished with 22 points in the Pistons' 98-90 win. [AP]  |
Game 3 is Thursday night in Orlando.
The Pistons were in control for much of the game, but just like the opener, Orlando rallied late to make the final score look respectable.
Detroit led by 15 points early in the fourth quarter, but was ahead by just six with 1 1/2 minutes left.
On the ensuing possession, Billups ended Orlando's comeback hopes with a three-point play.
The Pistons won Game 1 on Saturday night 100-92.
Each of Detroit's starters scored at least 10 points and top reserve Antonio McDyess added nine points and 11 rebounds.
The Magic, meanwhile, didn't have a third player in double figures until the final minute of the game when former Piston Darko Milicic scored his 10th point -- all in the fourth quarter.
Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups had 21 points, eight assists and only one turnover. Tayshaun Prince scored 18 points, while Rasheed Wallace had 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Chris Webber added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Wallace helped the Pistons get off to a good start.
He blocked Howard's shot and made a 3-pointer on the first two possessions of the game.
Wallace helped Detroit lead by as many as 10 points in the first quarter with eight points, five rebounds, two blocks and two assists.
Turkoglu kept Orlando in the game early by making all six of his shots in the first quarter for 12 points -- while his teammates were 5-of-16 -- as the Pistons took a 28-22 lead.
Webber, the No. 1 pick from the 1993 NBA draft, got the best of 2004's top selection during a sequence in the second quarter that gave the Pistons their biggest lead in the first half.
Howard missed a shot altered by Webber and complained to an official. Then, Webber ran down the middle of the court and was in the perfect position to follow up a miss with a dunk to put Detroit ahead 37-26.
Just as they did in Game 1, the Magic showed they're capable of erasing double-digit deficits quickly.
Orlando outscored Detroit 10-1 after Webber's tip-dunk, later pulled within a point and trailed 47-44 at halftime.
After Turkoglu made his first shot in the second half, Prince's 3-pointer and Billups' layup on the Pistons' next two possessions gave them a 67-54 lead with a few minutes left in the third quarter. Detroit went into the fourth quarter leading 71-59.
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