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DETROIT, Michigan: Chauncey Billups scored 28 points and Detroit
dominated with defense and free throws down the stretch to beat
Orlando 100-93, taking command of their National Basketball
Association playoff series.
Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince each scored
17 points Monday and Richard Hamilton added 14 for the Pistons, who
seized a two games to none lead in the Eastern Conference
second-round best-of-7 series.
“In the fourth quarter we played great defense
and we didn’t do what we should have done offensively—we
didn’t move the ball—but our defense was huge and we got the
stops when we needed them,” Prince said.
Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson each scored 22
points to lead Orlando while Rashard Lewis had 20 points for the
Magic. Howard also grabbed 18 rebounds for Orlando, which will host
games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Saturday.
The victory was Detroit’s ninth in a row over
Orlando in the playoffs since last losing to the Magic in the first
round in 2003.
Should the Pistons sweep out Orlando, they will
set an NBA record for dominating a foe in the playoffs as well as
advance to their sixth Eastern Conference final in a row.
-- AFP
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