ORL Magic at DET Pistons (May 05, 2008)
2008-05-05 06:24:00
PA SPORTSTICKER NBA PLAYOFF PREVIEW
(ORLANDO-DETROIT)
*Billups, Pistons look to go up 2-0 on Magic*
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Orlando at Detroit 7:00 pm EDT
Eastern Conference Semifinal Pistons lead, 1-0
AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) - Chauncey Billups and the
Detroit Pistons seemed to have re-gained their focus.
Billups and the second-seeded Pistons look to protect home-court
advantage in Game Two of their Eastern Conference semifinal
series against the Orlando Magic on Monday.
After going down 2-1 in their opening series against
Philadelphia, the Pistons have since returned to their dominant
form that has helped them earn five consecutive trips to the
conference finals.
In Saturday's series opener, Billups poured in 19 points to lead
four others in double figures in Detroit's 91-73 blowout
victory over Orlando in Game One.
"You can't rattle us," Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace said. "We
ain't no punks."
"We got outplayed badly," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We
need to bounce back."
Wallace and the rest of the Pistons' frontcourt did an excellent
job of defending Magic All-Star Dwight Howard, who went without
a double-double for the first time in the postseason.
Howard became the first player to post three 20-point,
20-rebound games in the playoffs since Hall of Famer Wilt
Chamberlain did so during the 1971-72 postseason.
To make matters worst for Orlando, Howard injured his left thumb
trying to grab a rebound late in the third quarter and played
with blue tape protecting it the rest of the way.
"It's fine. It's just a bruised thumb," said Howard, who had
just 12 points and eight rebounds. "I'll be all right."
Detroit's bench also contributed, holding a 23-13 scoring edge,
with former starter Antonio McDyess carrying the load with 10
points on 5-of-9 shooting.
Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu both had 18 points and seven
boards for the Magic, who were held under 20 points in each of
the last two quarters on Saturday.
"This wasn't about them as much as it was about our lack of
execution," Magic guard Keith Bogans said. "We didn't take good
shots, so we we didn't make shots."
Detroit's All-Star backcourt of Billups and Richard Hamilton was
decisively better than Orlando's tandem of Jameer Nelson and
Maurice Evans. The Magic's duo scored just 11 points on 5-of-11
shooting combined.
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