Scanning the blogs and beats following the Magic's 111-86 win over the Pistons in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals ...

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: "The Magic now lead the series against the Pistons 1 games to 2. Or at least that what it feels like, doesn't it? ... Let's face it, the one and only reason anybody favored the Pistons coming into this series was because Billups has been a Magic-killer in the past and is considered vastly superior to Magic point guard Jameer Nelson. ... Prediction time: If Billups doesn't play the rest of the series, the Magic will win in 6. If Billups attempts to play and is severely limited, the Magic will win in 7. If Billups comes back close to full strength, the Pistons win in 6 or 7.

Chris McCosky, Detroit News: "One thing you have to know: If Chauncey Billups' strained right hamstring isn't right by Saturday, Rodney Stuckey will be. "I'm good," Stuckey said, when asked about the possibility of starting a critical Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. "I ain't feeling nothing. I'm ready to play. I am just going to go out and do what I did today."

Believing in Magic: "Orlando prevailed for several reasons. The most notable is that they played Magic basketball and they made their three’s. Orlando has been awful from behind the arc this post season and have only shot well in two quarters, but they were consistent from the game and that made all the difference. They went 11-24 from three-point land, which was 45%. Hedo Turkoglu, who had 18 on the night, got back on track and made 3-of-5 threes."

David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel: "Yeah, I'm an offensive genius," Van Gundy said. He's looking like a rumpled, mustachioed Einstein at the moment. Dwight Howard is getting the ball in spots where he can do damage. And when Howard is feeling it on offense, he generally turns into Godzilla on defense. Nelson seems to be maturing into a consistent point guard before our very eyes. He's done that before, only to revert back into Jameer. But he's never played this well for this long. Then there's Lewis. Welcome to the playoffs, Money Man."

Need4Sheed: "It's funny now that the game is over I remember wondering why Dyess or Maxiell weren't putting up numbers. Now I know after looking at the box score that they weren't on the court much. Maxiell played just 18 minutes while Dyess just 14. What's the reason for that? Both went scoreless on the night and neither were in foul trouble. If it was because they used Walter and co. to mathup against the smaller guards? If it was, it didn't work."

John Denton, Florida Today: " At long last, the Orlando Magic finally proved they can beat the mighty Detroit Pistons in the playoffs. Now, they'll have a chance to prove they can beat them in a best-of-seven series. Knowing that no team in NBA history has ever rallied from a 0-3 deficit to win in the playoffs, the Magic played with a tremendous sense of desperation Wednesday and won at Amway Arena for a fourth consecutive time in these playoffs."

A. Sherrod Blakely, MLive.com: "It was definitely a hired gun out there we missed," said Rasheed Wallace, referring to Billups' shooting touch. "But Stuck did a pretty good job of coming in, running the offense, being aggressive, staying aggressive. It's kudos for Stuck." Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy praised his team for a well-played game, but was quick to add that Billups' absence was also a factor in the final outcome.

Related: The Internets are alive, 2008 NBA Playoffs