Slam Dunk Central

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Oh those Detroit Pistons.? Just when you thought they had their backs against the wall, they come back in convincing fashion.? A strong start in the first quarter, combined with 58% shooting not to mention holding the Philadelphia 76ers to a stingy 34% shooting from the floor enabled Detroit to advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, routing Philadelphia 100-77.? The victory sends Detroit up against the Orlando Magic - a much tougher opponent - who eliminated the Toronto Raptors in 5 games - this Saturday at Detroit.

Philadelphia went without a field goal for the first 6 minutes of the first quarter; by the time Andre Miller made the Sixers’ first field goal with 6:13 left in the quarter, they had only cut into Detroit’s lead to the tune of 16-5.? The Pistons shot 69% in the period as they went into the second quarter leading 30-12; a Sixers run cut?the Pistons’ lead to 12, but Detroit regained control as their starters returned to the floor and were ahead 51-33 as Chauncey Billups hit a jumper at the halftime buzzer.? The Pistons would outscore the Sixers 28-18 in the third quarter, giving Detroit an insurmountable 79-51 advantage, of which Philadelphia would not recover from.

Detroit was led by Richard Hamilton with 24 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal while Billups scored 20 with 3 treys, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals.? Philadelphia was led by Andre Iguodala with 16 points, 4 rebounds, an assist and 4 steals while Miller and Louis Williams scored 11 each - with Miller grabbing a rebound and dishing out 2 assists while Williams grabbed a rebound, dished out an assist and had 2 steals.