Wallace provides dagger; Hamilton paces Pistons past Magic

Chauncey Billups added 21 points and eight assists, while Rasheed Wallace contributed 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks for Detroit. Tayshaun Prince had 18 points for the Pistons, who had all five of their starters in double figures, just like Saturday night in a 100-92 series-opening win. Chris Webber ended with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Hedo Turkoglu had 22 points before fouling out for the Magic, who also got 21 points and eight boards from Grant Hill. Dwight Howard, who had 13 points and 19 rebounds in the opener, was limited to eight points and 11 boards on Monday, going 3-of-9 from the field.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Thursday at Orlando.

The Magic, in the playoffs for the first time since 2003 when they were beaten by the Pistons in the first round, haven’t been able to overcome the balanced attack from Hamilton and company.

Hamilton went 12-of-14 at the foul line, sealing the win by making all six of his free throw attempts in the final minute.

Detroit led by as many as 15 in the final quarter, but it was Wallace’s desperation shot that in essence put away the Magic. Turkoglu’s jumper brought the Magic within 85-78 with nearly 3 1/2 minutes left.

Then, with the shot clock about to expire, Wallace sent a one-handed attempt from well beyond the arc, and the ball caromed off the glass and in, moving the lead back to double-digits with less than three minutes remaining. Orlando didn’t get closer than six the rest of the way.

Antonio McDyess ended with nine points and 11 rebounds for Detroit.

Darko Milicic, drafted by Detroit second overall in 2003, heard the boos again and finished with 10 points for the Magic.

Hamilton’s jumper capped nine consecutive points for the Pistons, moving them to a 19-12 advantage with just over five minutes left in the opening quarter. The lead grew to as many as 10 before Detroit ended the period with a 28-22 cushion.

Hill’s driving layup brought the Pistons within 38-36 with under four minutes left in the second, capping seven straight Orlando points. Orlando got within one later in the quarter, but still trailed 47-44 at intermission.

Wallace’s jumper widened Detroit’s lead to 52-44 and the Pistons used a 9-2 spurt later in the third to extend the margin to 67-54. Prince drained a three and Billups hit a driving layup to culminate the flurry, and the Pistons carried a 71-59 lead going into the fourth.

Game Notes

Detroit has beaten the Magic six straight times, including a four-game sweep during this regular season...Orlando’s last win at the Palace was February 22, 2004.