Balanced Scoring The Key, Pistons Embarrass Magic 91-72

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA PLAYOFFS

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Words cannot adequately describe the beating that the Detroit Pistons administered on the Orlando Magic Saturday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills.? Pure and simple - the Magic were beaten up physically, mentally- they were punked.? Neither team shot very well (Detroit at 42.9%, Orlando shot 40.5%) yet neither team committed very many turnovers (Detroit-6, Orlando-13).? Any way you slice it, what matters is the end result, and the result was in Detroit’s favor as they grabbed a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series, demolishing Orlando 91-72.

Neither team stood out, scoring-wise, as the first quarter was even at 22, while Detroit outscored Orlando by 1, going into halftime with a slim 43-42 lead.? The Pistons opened the third quarter with a 19-3 run and after the Magic pulled to within 7 points, Detroit put the game away with a 17-4 explosion early in the fourth quarter.? Detroit had 5 players in double-digits, led by Chauncey Billups with 19 points, 2 rebounds and 7 assists while Richard Hamilton scored 17 with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block; Tayshaun Prince and Jason Maxiell added 12 apiece - with Prince grabbing 8 rebounds, dishing out 5 assists, and blocking a shot while Maxiell grabbed 9 rebounds, dished out an assist, had a steal and blocked 3 shots.

Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 18 points each - with Turkoglu grabbing 7 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists along with a steal while Lewis grabbed 7 rebounds, dished out 2 assists and blocking a shot; Dwight Howard had a sub-par effort as he scored 12 with 8 rebounds, a steal and 3 blocks.? Detroit hosts Orlando again on Monday night at 7:00 PM (EST).

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