NBA Game Summary - Detroit at Orlando

04.8.2005

Orlando, FL (Basketball News) - Tayshaun Prince’s 26 points led six Detroit scorers in double figures, as the Pistons rolled to a 114-102 victory over the Orlando Magic at TD Waterhouse Centre.

Chauncey Billups added 23 points and Rasheed Wallace scored 22 for the Pistons, who have won five straight and six of seven to maintain a stronghold on their Central Division lead and second place in the Eastern Conference.

Richard Hamilton chipped in 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for Detroit, while Ben Wallace had 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Antonio McDyess scored 10 off the bench in the win.

DeShawn Stevenson scored 25 points to lead the Magic, who have lost 14 of their last 18 to fall a precarious 3 1/2 games out of playoff contention.

"Maybe we’re mathematically out of it — whatever it may be — but we have to play to win," said Orlando head coach Chris Jent. "It’s our job to do it. It’s our obligation, and that’s the way we need to play."

Steve Francis added 23 points and nine assists in the loss and Dwight Howard collected 21 points and 13 rebounds.

The Pistons led 51-45 at the half, but didn’t take control of the game until an 11-0 run late in the third quarter gave them a 19-point advantage.

Three-pointers by Billups and Lindsey Hunter bookended the spurt, with Hunter’s making it an 84-65 game in the final minute.

The lead was 84-67 heading into the fourth quarter and reached as high as 21 points at 100-79.

Orlando made some noise with a 15-4 run that trimmed its deficit to 104-94 with around four minutes remaining.

Stevenson scored nine points during the burst, but the Magic could not get closer. They have lost seven of their last nine games against the Pistons.

Prince scored 10 of his 17 first-half points during a 13-0 run in the opening quarter that gave Detroit its largest lead of the half at 25-12.

The Pistons then carried a 29-23 advantage into the second quarter, but Orlando tied the game with an 8-0 run later in the period. A pair of Francis free throws capped the spurt and made it 40-40.

Orlando forward Grant Hill was placed on the injured list with a bruised left shin and is expected to miss the remainder of the season...Jameer Nelson scored 10 points for the Magic on just 4-of-14 shooting...Detroit shot 55 percent for the game, and was 7-of-10 on three-pointers...Orlando shot 49 percent.

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