Category: Orlando Magic Blog

The AP reports: There is a reason the Detroit Pistons have been to five consecutive Eastern Conference finals. They proved it on Saturday, even without their All-Star point guard to hold things together in front of a hostile crowd. Richard Hamilton scored 32 points and Hedo Turkoglu missed a layup with time running out as the Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 90-89 to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Pistons became the first team to win on the road in the second round this postseason, and can clinch their sixth consecutive conference finals appearance when this series returns to Detroit on Tuesday. All of it happened with Chauncey Billups watching in a sport coat on the bench after straining a hamstring in Game 3… Tayshaun Prince scored 17 for Detroit, including an 11-foot runner for the go-ahead basket with 8.9 seconds left. Antonio McDyess added eight points and 14 boards. The Pistons controlled the tempo in the second half after falling behind by 15 in the third quarter, deflated the Magic transition game that gassed up its Game 3 win and pounded Dwight Howard in the paint.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: Both teams shot a similar FG% (46%, give or take a percent) but the Magic nailed 10-of-18 three-pointers, the Pistons just 4-of-13. But the Pistons got a few more shot attempts, and made a few more free throws. The Pistons had a slight rebounding edge and an 18 to 13 assists edge. And Detroit barely turned the ball over, though Orlando controlled it pretty well, too.

For the Pistons, Hamilton had 32 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Tayshaun Prince had 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists (but 4 turnovers). Rasheed Wallace needed 15 shots to get 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Antonio McDyess had 8 points and 14 rebounds as a starter. Jason Maxiell was surprisingly quiet off the bench.

For the Magic, Hedo Turkoglu had 20 points but just 2 rebounds and one more turnover than assist. Jameer Nelson, Maurice Evans and Rashard Lewis each scored 15. Dwight Howard (3-of-12, only 2 free throw attempts) had a miserable 8 points, 12 rebounds and little else.

The AP reports: Rashard Lewis, Orlando’s big offseason acquisition, scored a career playoff-high 33 points and the Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 111-86 on Wednesday night to gain a little momentum in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Detroit still leads the series 2-1, though they suffered a tough injury. All-Star guard Chauncey Billups strained his right hamstring early in the first quarter and didn’t return. The Pistons were hopeful he could play in Game 4 Saturday in Orlando, but planned to re-evaluate him again Thursday… Richard Hamilton scored 24 points for Detroit and Tayshaun Prince had 22, while Rasheed Wallace scored 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting. With Billups out, rookie Rodney Stuckey stepped up big for the Pistons. He scored 19 points—nine in the second quarter—but he didn’t bring the same floor presence as Billups, Detroit’s steady leader and clutch 3-point threat. Billups was averaging 17.5 points in the postseason and had 28 against the Magic in Game 2… Detroit failed to score a field goal in the opening 4:27 of the fourth quarter until Hamilton made a layup. By then the Magic were ahead 87-73—helped by a Lewis 3-pointer and putback—and the Pistons would get no closer.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: The Magic shot 53.8%, the Pistons just 40.3%. And the Magic nailed 11-of-24 three-pointers (Lewis hit 5, Hedo Turkoglu hit 3), the Pistons just 2-of-10. The Pistons had a slight free throw edge. The Magic had a slight rebounding edge and dished 18 assists, while the Pistons only had 12 (no Piston had more than 3 assists).

For the Magic, Rashard Lewis had 33 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Dwight Howard (8-of-13) had 20 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 6 blocks. Jameer Nelson had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Turkoglu (just 7-of-18) had 18 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Keyon Dooling scored 10 off the bench.

For the Pistons, Richard Hamilton took 20 shots for 24 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, but 6 turnovers. Tayshaun Prince (8-of-14) had 22 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Rodney Stuckey (5-of-13, 9-of-9 free throws) scored 19 off the bench. And Rasheed Wallace (awful 4-of-15) had 11 points and little else.

The AP reports: Chauncey Billups made the 3-pointer in question at the end of the third quarter and Detroit went on to beat Orlando 100-93 Monday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series… Billups officially made the shot with 0.5 seconds left in the third after the clock froze at 4.8 seconds… The Magic still had a chance to win after trailing by 14 in the first half. Orlando had the ball down by two points late in the game, but Rashard Lewis missed a running scoop shot with 14 seconds left, Dwight Howard just missed on a putback and Hedo Turkoglu couldn’t grab the offensive rebound… Dwight Howard bounced back from a lackluster game with 22 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks. He had just 12 points and a career playoff-low eight rebounds when Detroit won the series opener by 19 points.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: The Pistons shot 47.4%, the Magic 43.8%. The Magic poured in 11-of-23 three-pointers (Jameer Nelson 5 threes), the Pistons a quiet 4-of-12. The Pistons got the line a bit more, and shot better from there. The Magic committed 19 turnovers, the Pistons only 8.

For the Pistons, Chauncey Billups (8-of-19, 10-of-10 free throws) had 28 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Tayshaun Prince (8-of-13) had 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Rasheed Wallace had 17 points, not much else. Richard Hamilton (awful 4-of-18) had 14 points. Jason Maxiell, still starting while Antonio McDyess comes off the bench, shot 5-of-5 for 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks.

For the Magic, Dwight Howard (8-of-11) had 22 points, 18 rebounds and 2 blocks, but no assists and 5 turnovers. Jameer Nelson had 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Rashard Lewis (awful 6-of-21) had 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 turnovers. Maurice Evans scored 13. Hedo Turkoglu had 12 points, 7 assists but 6 turnovers.

The AP reports: The Detroit Pistons beat up Orlando physically and mentally. They shoved Dwight Howard out of his comfort zone and pushed the Magic’s buttons during heated exchanges, leading to Detroit’s 91-72 win Saturday night in Game 1 of their second-round series… The game got emotional at times, leading to technicals against Rasheed Wallace along with Orlando’s Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis… Howard had a relatively quiet night with 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks after being the first player to score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds in three playoff games since Wilt Chamberlain did it in 1972… Detroit took control with a 19-3 run in the third quarter and after the Magic pulled within seven points, the Pistons put them away with a 17-4 burst to open the fourth quarter.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: Neither team shot particularly well, but the Pistons at least managed 3-of-8 three-pointers, while the Magic hit an awful 2-of-15. Free throw attempts were similar, but the Magic missed half, going just 10-of-20. The Pistons had more rebounds, more assists, and half the turnovers.

For the Pistons, Chauncey Billups had 19 points and 7 assists. Richard Hamilton had 17 points and 6 rebounds. Tayshaun Prince (just 6-of-16) had 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Jason Maxiell, who started in place of Antonio McDyess (10 points, 5 rebounds off bench) had 12 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.

For the Magic, Rashard Lewis (20 shots, no free throws) had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu (16 shots) had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Dwight Howard had just 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. No other Magic players scored double-digits or did much of anything else.