Orlando faces elimination
(AP)Updated: 2007-04-27 10:59 Even on a night when the Detroit Pistons didn't play their best, they were good enough to beat the Orlando Magic -- again.
Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points, Chauncey Billups added 21 and the Pistons defeated Orlando 93-77 Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.
The victory ended a postseason trend for the Pistons -- they had lost their last six Game 3s when leading 2-0 -- and left them one victory from advancing to the second round.
Game 4 is Saturday in Orlando.
 Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill (33) is wrapped up by Detroit Pistons forward Antonio McDyess as he attempts a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff game in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, April 26, 2007. [AP]  |
Detroit gave the Magic plenty of chances in this one. The Pistons trailed early, let Orlando be physical and seemingly got flustered as they were whistled for three technical fouls. Leading scorer Richard Hamilton even had an off night, scoring 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting.
But Detroit made up for it with solid outside shooting from Prince, Billups and Rasheed Wallace. They also got 15 points and seven rebounds from Chris Webber.
The long-range shooting was the difference, though. The Pistons finished 8-of-13 from behind the arc. Wallace, who had 15 points, was 3-for-3. Prince was 3-for-5, and Billups was 2-for-3.
Jameer Nelson, a defensive liability at times in the first two games, led the Magic with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Dwight Howard, who lacked energy in Game 2 because of a stomach illness, had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Grant Hill and Hedo Turkoglu, the two who carried Orlando in the first two games, struggled at home. They were a combined 6-of-22 from the field.
Another key in the game -- aside from the 3-pointers -- was Detroit's strong finishes to the first three quarters. The Pistons scored the final six points of the first, tying the game at 23. They made two baskets in the closing seconds before halftime. And Prince hit a 3 on the last possession of the third.
Those points combined to turn a close game into a double-digit lead.
The biggest turning point may have come just before halftime. Orlando looked like it might head to the locker room in a close game, maybe even with a lead. But Prince hit consecutive jumpers with the shot clock winding down. He then stole an errant inbound pass from Turkoglu and fed Billups, who hit a 3-pointer just before the final buzzer.
The two final shots turned a one-point game into a 48-42 advantage for Detroit.
The Magic, who have lost all seven meetings with Detroit this season, vowed to be more aggressive this time around. And they were.
Howard set the tone early with three dunks in the first quarter. His teammates drove more often. And the Magic played better and more physical defense all around.
It may have even troubled Detroit.
Wallace was called for a tech in the first for talking back. Dale Davis got one in the second for pushing Keyon Dooling. And Hamilton picked up one in the third following a hard foul on Howard.
But the Pistons never panicked.
They settled down after each of them and played like they have all season -- as the best road team in the Eastern Conference.
It helped them go ahead 3-0 in a series for the first time since their championship season in 1990.
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