Pistons end 8-game skid, top Magic 93-85

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ, Associated Press Writer Feb 27, 10:51 pm EST

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—The Detroit Pistons found their answer without The Answer.

Richard Hamilton had 31 points and six assists in his return to the starting lineup in place of Allen Iverson, and the Pistons ended their eight-game losing streak with a 93-85 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

“It wasn’t something that I felt was added pressure because this is what I do,” Hamilton said of returning to his starting role. “This is my comfort zone. But it is what it is and we got a win and that was a great thing.”

Rodney Stuckey had 22 points and Tayshaun Prince added 17 for the Pistons, who snapped their longest losing streak in 14 seasons. Rasheed Wallace, who was fined $25,000 by the league earlier Friday for his actions after an ejection Wednesday night, finished with six points.

Dwight Howard had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Rafer Alston scored 14 for the Magic, who fell again to a Pistons team that has knocked them out of the playoffs the last two seasons and has won 21 of the past 26 meetings.

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy was more than frustrated after the latest loss, saying his team is “a long way from being able to beat” Detroit and has to find a way to “get tougher.”

“One thing is you get tired of getting your (butt) kicked,” Van Gundy said. “It’s like the kid on the playground whose getting beat up all the time and he takes it and runs home. At some point, enough’s enough, and he stands up for himself.”

Iverson went back to Detroit to see a specialist for his stiff back after an MRI exam Friday came back negative. Detroit coach Michael Curry said Hamilton would have replaced Iverson regardless in an attempt to get the Pistons out of their rut.

“That guy’s been quietly seething there for a while,” Van Gundy said of Hamilton. “I was worried about that going in. This is a guy who’s an All-Star and he’s been sitting on that bench waiting for a chance to get back in.”

Playing with renewed passion and quick ball movement, the Pistons displayed the kind of team effort that has led them to six straight Eastern Conference finals.

Antonio McDyess made a jumper with 6:10 remaining to extend Detroit’s lead to 83-76, the last of six straight Pistons points that built a lead they would never give up. Orlando got within five down the stretch before McDyess and Hamilton made consecutive shots to put Detroit ahead 91-83 with 2:52 left.

“One thing with Orlando is that if we continue to play Dwight straight up with Rasheed there, it allows us to stay on their 3-point shooters,” Prince said. “And if we can eliminate that, then we put ourselves in good position to get the game.”

Detroit outscored the Magic 28-14 in the third quarter, forcing six turnovers and converting them into easy baskets. Stuckey’s 3-point play capped a 15-4 Pistons spurt to begin the half, and they continued their sharp shooting to end the third quarter ahead 71-65.

There were six lead changes in the second quarter until the Magic used a 12-2 run, ending with a 3-pointer by Rashard Lewis that put Orlando ahead 47-38. The Pistons started to cut into the lead, but Howard made a pair of free throws and his dunk in the waning seconds of the half gave Orlando a 51-43 lead that ignited the crowd.

Things weren’t much different in the first half.

Courtney Lee stripped Hamilton and turned it into an uncontested dunk to cap a 13-3 run that put the Magic ahead 20-14 in the opening quarter. Hamilton would get revenge, ending the period with a jumper over Lee at the buzzer to tighten Orlando’s lead to 24-20.

“We want to get back into being aggressive, getting in passing lanes and pressing,” Hamilton said. “We did a great job of that tonight.”

Notes

Curry said Iverson is not expected to play at Boston on Sunday. … Howard received a technical foul for arguing a call in the third quarter. … Turkoglu and his wife, Banu, welcomed their first child Thursday in Orlando. The girl’s name is Ela. … A couple of life-size skeletons wearing blue T-shirts, hats and equipped with puppet-controlled arms were sitting courtside as part of a campaign by Tobacco Free Florida. The T-shirts read “We lose too many fans each year to tobacco.”

Updated Feb 27, 10:51 pm EST
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19 Comments

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  1. jim l
    19. Posted by jim l Sat Feb 28 4:49pm EST

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    haha flapguy.. Stan Van gundy himself said.. Orlando was a long way from beating detroit in the playoffs.. so suck it.
  2. <i>hotkudi2000</i>
    18. Posted by hotkudi2000 Sat Feb 28 12:19pm EST

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    Curry has to go he is confused he has messed up the team till we have iverson he should start &stuckey should come from bench,dumar yu were wrong by trading billups
  3. Mike M
    17. Posted by Mike M Sat Feb 28 11:20am EST

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    Thank you Basketball Gods. Detroit still has the stuff, they just have to figure out how to use it. Curry makes hasty changes. A team like Detroit needs consistency......the older guys need to be played more and the new guys need to hit it with extreme energy when they are inserted. If they can regain their mojo, they will be in the playoff picture and will surely move beyond the first round.
  4. Rizwan R
    16. Posted by Rizwan R Sat Feb 28 11:18am EST

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    I've been a die hard iverson fan for years, but stats and facts speak for themselves, last year this time Pistons had the same record as Denver's got now, only difference is the trade wasnt made yet. Chauncy made Nuggets a better team with his presence, yet iverson couldnt do the same only made it worse.
  5. Eric L
    15. Posted by Eric L Sat Feb 28 11:03am EST

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    Hey flpaguy.....

    did you just say as long as you don't play Detroit you will be in the ECF?? LOL. I am a die hard Piston fan but if facing a .500 team with a horrible coach would be your playoff downfall, maybe you shouldn't be there. Speaking of coaches....Stan Van Gundy s awful. Period.

    Also, the ECF is Boston and Cleveland right now.....Orlando is not beating either of those two team in rd 2, that's a joke...especially with your guard play (or lack thereof). Then again, what should we expect from a franchise who is known for having Shaq leave them in his prime and Nick Anderson choking away a finals game. LOL. HORRIBLE FRANCHISE.....and thanks again for doing that Grant Hill sign and trade in 2000. Helped us win a title and you be a 40 win a yr team for the past decade.....biiiatttchh!
  6. Eric L
    14. Posted by Eric L Sat Feb 28 11:01am EST

    Report Abuse

    Hey flpaguy.....

    did you just say as long as you don't play Detroit you will be in the ECF?? LOL. I am a die hard Piston fan but if facing a .500 team with a horrible coach would be your playoff downfall, maybe you shouldn't be there. Speaking of coaches....Stan Van Gundy s awful. Period.

    Also, the ECF is Boston and Cleveland right now.....Orlando is not beating either of those two team in rd 2, that's a joke...especially with your guard play (or lack thereof). Then again, what should we expect from a franchise who is known for having Shaq leave them in his prime and Nick Anderson choking away a finals game. LOL. HORRIBLE FRANCHISE.
  7. Eric L
    13. Posted by Eric L Sat Feb 28 11:01am EST

    Report Abuse

    Hey flpaguy.....

    did you just say as long as you don't play Detroit you will be in the ECF?? LOL. I am a die hard Piston fan but if facing a .500 team with a horrible coach would be your playoff downfall, maybe you shouldn't be there. Speaking of coaches....Stan Van Gundy s awful. Period.

    Also, the ECF is Boston and Cleveland right now.....Orlando is not beating either of those two team in rd 2, that's a joke...especially with your guard play (or lack thereof). Then again, what should we expect from a franchise who is known for having Shaq leave them in his prime and Nick Anderson choking away a finals game. LOL. HORRIBLE FRANCHISE.
  8. Eric L
    12. Posted by Eric L Sat Feb 28 11:01am EST

    Report Abuse

    Hey flpaguy.....

    did you just say as long as you don't play Detroit you will be in the ECF?? LOL. I am a die hard Piston fan but if facing a .500 team with a horrible coach would be your playoff downfall, maybe you shouldn't be there. Speaking of coaches....Stan Van Gundy s awful. Period.

    Also, the ECF is Boston and Cleveland right now.....Orlando is not beating either of those two team in rd 2, that's a joke...especially with your guard play (or lack thereof). Then again, what should we expect from a franchise who is known for having Shaq leave them in his prime and Nick Anderson choking away a finals game. LOL. HORRIBLE FRANCHISE.
  9. Airick
    11. Posted by Airick Sat Feb 28 8:46am EST

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    Iverson is the one responsible for destroying the type of game the Pistons had for ages. His, shoot first mentality, drive to the basket, look for team mates later type of moves will never work for guys who build a reputation as being one of the league's best defensive teams.. Now, they don't have the kind of defense needed to break the .500 mark. If AI is at point guard, he could never fill in the void that Chauncey left behind. Chauncey could score when needed, and he could get his team mates involved. If AI is at shooting guard, Hamilton is at bench which, really makes no sense at all. AI has always been a defensive liability. He grunts about the Pistons not being able to do defense but in his entire career, AI has always been an offensively strong player but plays lousy defense. He could steal but he could never give in the same pressure and force turn overs like what chauncey, hamilton, and tyshaun did for the former years. I'd say trade AI, or put him in bench and start rip... With this kind of basketball, the Pistons would never survive the first round of Playoff against the Cav's, Hawks, Miami, Orlando, or even the Sixers... With their current level of play they'd even have a hard time disposing the Nets or the Bucks should the playoff start already... Today's Pistons are a losing team as compared to their accomplishment for much of this decade.
  10. Sharron
    10. Posted by Sharron Sat Feb 28 8:13am EST

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    AI should have been the one coming off the bench in the beginning. he is perfect with a second unit of Maxiell, Johnson, Hermmann and Afflolo. Ten shots per half for him are a given. Do something right for a change Curry!!!!!!!
  11. edzel
    9. Posted by edzel Sat Feb 28 5:07am EST

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    put stuckey on the bench. and have RIP to his original position. AI is best when his ball at his hand and make his team involved. Common Coach Curry you can do better than that...LONG LIVE DEEEETTROOOIIIIT BASKET-BAALLLLLLL!!!!!
  12. AK
    8. Posted by AK Sat Feb 28 12:44am EST

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    Agree Curry need to go home. Curry is the one to blame...
  13. Sushi Guy
    7. Posted by Sushi Guy Fri Feb 27 10:56pm EST

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    if anyone needed further proof that AI is wrong for Detroit... Yes, it is AI who messes up their game. It's not that he's selfish, its that he's trying not to be selfish but has no idea what this means. AI is simply not coachable. Go PISTONS!
  14. flpaguy
    6. Posted by flpaguy Fri Feb 27 10:46pm EST

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    As long as the Magic don't face the Pistons in the playoffs, they'll be in the Eastern Conference championship. Detroit is half the team they were with Iverson and the new coach in town. 8 losses in a row is no fluke, that's a trend...enjoy this win, because you may not even make the playoffs. GO MAGIC!!! (even though we got another pathetic game against the Detroit Mob)
  15. Rafael
    5. Posted by Rafael Fri Feb 27 10:45pm EST

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    i agree with paul.nelson even though iverson is me IDOL )=
  16. Mick
    4. Posted by Mick Fri Feb 27 10:38pm EST

    Report Abuse

    its not AI,its Michael Curry,all his players loose their confidence because of him,he' s a mess!!!!!!!
  17. Angelo E
    3. Posted by Angelo E Fri Feb 27 10:12pm EST

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    Nice job Detroit. I just hope stuckey can play consistently. But if he doesn't I wanna see Iverson replace him just to see what happens.
  18. <i>paul.nelson46</i>
    2. Posted by paul.nelson46 Fri Feb 27 10:10pm EST

    Report Abuse

    either the coach got to go or iverson goes because they messing up the piston flow and putting hamiton on the bench how stupid is that coach that why detroit won because they had their four orginal starters on the floor and iverson play selfish
  19. money
    1. Posted by money Fri Feb 27 10:09pm EST

    Report Abuse

    About time !!!!
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Top Performers

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 Detroit
R. Hamilton Richard Hamilton
11-18,  31 Pts
1 Rebs, 6 Assists
 Orlando
D. Howard Dwight Howard
7-12,  21 Pts
13 Rebs, 0 Assists

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