Orlando (3-0) at Detroit (1-2)

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  • Game info: 7:30 pm EST Tue Nov 3, 2009
  • TV: FSFL, FSD

By KATE HEDLIN, STATS Writer Nov 2, 11:06 pm EST

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The Detroit Pistons extended their dominance of the Orlando Magic in 2008-09, but it would be difficult to argue they were the better team.

After the first three games of the new season, the Magic once again appear to be one of the conference’s elite, while the Pistons are struggling.

Orlando looks to extend its undefeated start Tuesday - possibly with Vince Carter(notes) back in the lineup - when it visits Detroit, which knows it will be without Richard Hamilton(notes).

The Pistons (1-2) have won 19 of the last 24 meetings against the Magic (3-0), including all three last season. However, after ending Orlando’s playoff runs in 2003, 2007 and 2008, Detroit was left watching the Eastern Conference finals from home while Orlando was defeating Cleveland en route to facing the Lakers in the NBA finals.

The Magic averaged 87.0 points in their three losses to the Pistons last season - 14 below their season average - but they’ve had little trouble scoring in the first three games of 2009-10, reaching 120 in two of those contests including a 125-116 victory over Toronto on Sunday.

Despite missing Carter (sprained left ankle), Mickael Pietrus(notes) (flulike symptoms) and Rashard Lewis(notes) (suspension), the Magic had plenty of contributors and were on fire from beyond the arc, connecting on a season-high 17 3-pointers.

J.J. Redick(notes) went 5 of 8 from 3-point range to finish with a career-high 27 points. Jameer Nelson(notes) scored a team-high 30 while Dwight Howard(notes), named Eastern Conference player of the week on Monday, added 24 points and 11 rebounds.

“(The coaching staff) said, ‘You’ve got to play your own game, you can’t play Vince’s game or anything else, but you’ve got to play your game at a very high level,’” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “Those guys did. Jameer, J.J., Dwight, Ryan (Anderson) and Matt (Barnes) were all outstanding.”

Van Gundy said Carter could return Tuesday. He averaged 15.5 points in the first two games and will look to help the Magic get off to the best start in their history. Against a Detroit team missing its leading scorer from last season, they appear to have a good chance.

Hamilton, who will miss his third straight contest with a sprained left ankle, averaged 30.0 points in two games against Orlando last season.

Without Hamilton, whose 18.3 scoring average in 2008-09 led Detroit for the seventh year in a row, the Pistons have failed to break 90 points in consecutive losses. They led both games at the half but struggled in the third quarters, scoring 16 points in a 91-83 loss to Oklahoma City on Friday then managing only 14 in the third quarter of a 96-85 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday.

“We’ve got to play 48 minutes,” first-year coach John Kuester said. “It’s 24 minutes of the first half that the rhythm is good but that third period, we’ve got to come out with a certain amount of energy that we had when we left the court.”

The Pistons also struggled in the third quarter of their only win, scoring 18 points after taking a 53-41 lead into the locker room against Memphis last Wednesday.

Despite their overall problems, the Pistons have to be pleased with the production of their biggest offseason signing. Ben Gordon(notes) scored a season-high 26 points Saturday, going 8 of 15 from the floor. The former Chicago guard is averaging 24.3 points through three games.

Updated Nov 2, 11:06 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Orlando 11-4 2nd Southeast / 4th East 99.3 94.0 Road 5-2 Lost 1 7-3
Detroit 5-10 5th Central / 11th East 92.2 94.9 Home 3-3 Lost 6 3-7

Notes

April 22 C Dwight Howard's previous playoff high was 29 points against the Raptors in the first round last year. He had 31 points and 16 rebounds in his 15th career playoff game. ... Central Florida resident and the Magic's most famous fan, Tiger Woods, was sitting at his courtside seat across from Philadelphia's bench. ... F Rashard Lewis had missed the last three games with right knee tendinitis. F Hedo Turkoglu had been sidelined for the last two games with a sprained left ankle.

Apr 19, 10:33 pm EDT

21 The Pistons missed 12 of their final 15 shots in the first half en route to falling behind by 12 points at the half. They also finished 2-of-12 on 3-pointers. ... The last time that the Pistons failed to win a playoff series was in 2000, when they were swept in a five-game series by Miami. ... The NBA coach's association has dedicated the playoffs to former Pistons and Olympic coach Chuck Daly, who is battling pancreatic cancer. Both Cavaliers coach Mike Brown and Pistons coach Michael Curry reflected on Daly before the game. "He has touched a lot of different coaches," Curry said. "His impact is felt around the league, and I think honoring him now so he can see it, is a tremendous honor."

Apr 18, 7:04 pm EDT
NBA

54 Comments

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  1. paa
    54. Posted by paa Fri Nov 6 3:03pm EST

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    After an explosive game the other night against Toronto JJ Redick found himself chasing his guard i.e. Ben Gordon. Ben Gordon toyed with Redick in this one. Hehehe
  2. Scott
    53. Posted by Scott Wed Nov 4 11:20pm EST

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    This was the most lopsided officiating I've ever seen in my life. Either those refs were completely inept or they sold out to someone. The refs put on a clinic on how to ruin a sport. I'm disgusted.
  3. Sweep
    52. Posted by Sweep Wed Nov 4 6:41pm EST

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    How can you complain about the REF when Will Binum got his face pulled off and he got no call.
  4. Brandon
    51. Posted by Brandon Wed Nov 4 4:56pm EST

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    i was disgusted watching that game yesterday. I went to the game and was sick about alot of the refs calls. pitiful referreing
  5. lem
    50. Posted by lem Wed Nov 4 4:43pm EST

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    detroit is gona beat toronto tonight. toronto sucks!!!!!!!!!!!
  6. lem
    49. Posted by lem Wed Nov 4 4:34pm EST

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    that donald L kid is right. rip is a beast but gordon is still good. orlando sucks!!!!!

    oh yea kevin n
    you are spazing so shut up
  7. lem
    48. Posted by lem Wed Nov 4 4:28pm EST

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    i hope rip plays soon
  8. tunit
    47. Posted by tunit Wed Nov 4 2:20pm EST

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    kevin n.... Why are you on a sports blog then? ha ha ha you must have been cut from your high school team back in the 70s or 80s and are still upset about it.. let it go man.
  9. kevin n
    46. Posted by kevin n Wed Nov 4 2:01pm EST

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    i've read every blog here and i get the idea your all sore losers or immature adult babies.it does not matter what teams are playing basketball isnt a sport anymore its a business.no man on this planet is worth 25 million for 8 months of basketball.they need to change there promos to a business not sports.SPORTS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN AND ENTERTAINING US FANS BUT LOOK AT ALL THOSE PCES OF @#$% BBALL PLAYERS.I HEAR THEM SAY ITS FOR THE GOOD OF THE GAME 25 MILLION TO 1 PLAYER IS GOOD FOR WHAT GAME ?HOW DOES IT HELP US FANS EXCEPT WE PAY THESE IDIOT MILLIONAIRES SALARIES FOR WHAT GRATIFICATION DO WE GET .OH YEAH I FORGOT OVERPRICED HALF COOKED FOOD AND NASTY CHEAP ASS BEER THAT WE PAY MONEY FOR BEER THAT SELLS FOR ALOT PER BOTTLE OF HIGH CLASS BEER.ALL OF YOU NEED TO WAKE UP .QUIT SAYING BBALL,BASEBALL,HOCKEY,FOOTBALL IS A SPORT ITS NOT .PUT IT RIGHT IN SAME CATAGORY AS THAT FAKE WEAK ASS WRESTLING WHICH IS KNOWN AS ENTERTAINMENT NOT PROFESSIONAL SPORT.GROW UP
  10. Magician44
    45. Posted by Magician44 Wed Nov 4 1:33pm EST

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    No matter what players Detroit is able to put on court, the Magic always find a way to lose to that team. I don't care what the refs did or did not, the Magic has the talent to defeat a Pistons team missing their 2 best players (Hamilton and Prince). Previously the excuse was that Detroit was too big and could handle Dwight better than most teams, last night we got beat cause they were too fast.

    I guess we gotta start praying again (like last year) that we don't meet them in the first round of the playoffs.

    Oh, and Cavslandrocks... Pistons are to the Magic what the Magic are to the Cavs. :D
  11. Donald L
    44. Posted by Donald L Wed Nov 4 1:33pm EST

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    The Pistons cant win it without Hamilton & Prince but new guys will sure help!!
  12. Navy Veteran
    43. Posted by Navy Veteran Wed Nov 4 10:59am EST

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    It would be nice to see if the coach keeps these guys together. I doubt it, but it sure would be nice to give these guys a shot and see how they do. Even if you have to put Prince else where, if they want wins, why mess with something that may work ? All in all, great game Piston's !! Let's hope you continue to win. What would be the sweetest of all, if we took it to cleveland for the entire year.
  13. <i>djames777</i>
    42. Posted by djames777 Wed Nov 4 10:32am EST

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    Good win for the pistons, if they play hard and smart every game they will surprise a lot of people this season, because of the deep guard play will get teams in foul trouble.
  14. Pagan
    41. Posted by Pagan Wed Nov 4 10:29am EST

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    From a Magic Man, giving a Detroit fan something to smurk about.

    GOD FORBID WE EVER MEET DETROIT IN THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN! WHY CAN'T THESE FLIPPIN GUYS BEAT THE PISTONS????? I know everyone agrees the Magic are the better overall team. BUT, it doesn't matter unless we don't get matched up w/ them in the playoffs (if Detriot makes it). Like last year, we finally dodged them.

    UGGGGGHHH!!!!!
  15. <i>skip3mitch</i>
    40. Posted by skip3mitch Wed Nov 4 9:57am EST

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    will bynum is a beast. he was killing nelson. bynum 6 man of the year
  16. JosephF
    39. Posted by JosephF Wed Nov 4 9:08am EST

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    Bynum, Wallace and Stuckey played with a lot of heart. Big wins will not come easy this year. It will be interesteing to see what will happen and if Dumars will make a trrade to get these guys some more help. Great job Pistons!
  17. BigTenGuy
    38. Posted by BigTenGuy Wed Nov 4 9:06am EST

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    Well at least there is one good team out there that Detroit can still beat. That won't make much of a difference, though, if they keep losing to teams like Oklahoma City and Milwaukee.
  18. connie
    37. Posted by connie Wed Nov 4 9:03am EST

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    magic suck lakers all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  19. JuJu
    36. Posted by JuJu Wed Nov 4 8:42am EST

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    Yea I don't wanna hear any crying. The pistons took orlando out their comfort zone and got howard outta the game. They properly executed the way to beat orlando. Im not sayin detroit is guna make the playoffs but this sure was a nice win to show some promise
  20. Ryan V
    35. Posted by Ryan V Wed Nov 4 8:33am EST

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    Bynum pwned Howard, bahahah
  21. Dave
    34. Posted by Dave Wed Nov 4 8:22am EST

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    does anyone really not think that the refs controled this game. on different times the wistle blew late as if the basket goes in I wont blow the wistle. this is very flustrating to players and it was ovious last night the refs took orlando out of their game. I said before the game even started when I saw that Javie was officiating the game that orlando would lose. If you look at all the games he has officiated when the magic play and how many they lose. must not know how to officiate when large men play. yes the pistons guard played well but come 0n 38 free thows to 16 that diffently decided this game. By the way im from Michigan and just want to see games called fairly.
  22. ToddS
    33. Posted by ToddS Wed Nov 4 7:42am EST

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    I have to agree with Aaron (post 28). I'm a Magic Fan here but the Magic on occasion try to get greedy by launching all of them 3-pointers when they are not going down. It's great when they go in, but they keep launching them as if they will finally go in. I know that Dwight Howard is a little sore with a bum shoulder from the other night in Toronto, but the team has to step up, help their big man and create a lot of consistent field goals inside the 3 point line. The Magic are going to be continuously considered a finesse team until they start playing smarter team basketball.
  23. <i>bunshintechnique</i>
    32. Posted by bunshintechnique Wed Nov 4 3:57am EST

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    Orlando is always having a bad night when facing the Pistons... Is this a curse?!
  24. Robert B
    31. Posted by Robert B Wed Nov 4 3:30am EST

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    gortat!! U UGLY MOTHA....!!! hah aha haah ha
  25. <i>cavslandrocks</i>
    30. Posted by cavslandrocks Wed Nov 4 12:50am EST

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    @ guyapk2...the refs roobbed you??...boo-hoo-hoo...your team has been exposed...they'll never win anything with that 3 pt attack...7 pts from you all star PG??...14 from Redick....really looking forward to the 11th...better get healthy now
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