NBA PLAYOFFS : Pistons finish off Magic in just five
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/225684/
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Detroit Pistons made just enough shots and stops to advance to the Eastern Conference final for a sixth consecutive year.
Richard Hamilton scored 19 of his 31 points in the first half, made victory-sealing free throws late in the game and Tayshaun Prince had a key block, helping Detroit hold off the Orlando Magic for a 91-86 victory Tuesday night in Game 5 of the second-round series.
The Pistons will have a break before facing the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference final.
Detroit made just 36 percent of its shots and allowed the Magic to make nearly half of their attempts, but made up for the disparity at the line and by taking care of the ball.
The Pistons were 28 of 32 at the line and had just three turnovers — setting an NBA playoff record for the fewest giveaways in a game — while Orlando was 16 of 28 and had a playoff-high 21 turnovers, which turned into 34 points for Detroit.
To the Magic’s credit, they didn’t go away easily against a playoff-tested team that improved to 15-3 when it has a chance to advance since 2003.
Detroit led by 10 late, but was ahead 85-84 with just under a minute left after Hedo Turkoglu made back-to-back shots.
The Pistons won when Hamilton made two key free throws, Prince blocked Turkoglu’s dunk attempt, and Hamilton made two more at the line in the last 20 seconds of the game.
Playing without All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups for the second consecutive game because of a strained hamstring, rookie Rodney Stuckey filled the void with 15 points, six assists and no turnovers.
Antonio McDyess had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Rasheed Wallace had 14 points and Prince added 10.
Turkoglu had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson had 14 points apiece for the Magic. Nelson had guaranteed his team would extend the series with a victory.
Howard also had 17 rebounds and three blocks, but his night was marred by going 6 of 15 at the line.
Orlando was in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1996.
The Magic scored the last seven points of the first quarter to make it 20-all in what had to be a frustrating score for them.
They allowed Detroit to score all but two of its points off turnovers and offensive rebounds.
Lewis had as many missed shots (four ) as turnovers in a scoreless first, but each of the other starters scored at least four points to make up for the awful start from the team’s leading scorer.
When Lewis finally scored midway through the second quarter, his hook capped a 10-2 run that put Orlando ahead 33-27.
Detroit then went on a 16-3 run and took a 47-41 lead into halftime. ORLANDO (86 ) Turkoglu 8-15 2-2 18, Lewis 4-13 4-6 14, Howard 4-8 6-15 14, Nelson 6-7 0-0 14, Evans 4-7 1-2 11, Bogans 4-9 1-1 10, Dooling 1-5 2-2 5, Gortat 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-64 16-28 86. DETROIT (91 ) Prince 4-13 1-2 10, McDyess 6-9 5-6 17, Wallace 7-20 0-0 14, Stuckey 5-10 5-6 15, Hamilton 7-20 16-16 31, Hunter 1-5 0-0 3, Maxiell 0-3 1-2 1, Hayes 0-1 0-0 0, Ratliff 0-0 0-0 0, Herrmann 0-1 0-0 0, Afflalo 0-0 0-0 0, Dixon 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-83 28-32 91. Orlando.......................... 20 21 27 18 — 86 Detroit........................... 20 27 18 26 — 91 3-Point Goals—Orlando 8-22 (Nelson 2-3, Evans 2-4, Lewis 2-6, Dooling 1-3, Bogans 1-4, Turkoglu 0-2 ), Detroit 3-14 (Prince 1-2, Hunter 1-3, Hamilton 1-3, Wallace 0-6 ). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Orlando 58 (Howard 17 ), Detroit 44 (McDyess 11 ). Assists—Orlando 14 (Turkoglu 7 ), Detroit 16 (Stuckey 6 ). Total Fouls—Orlando 27, Detroit 24. Attendance—22, 076 (22, 076 ). HORNETS 101, SPURS 79
NEW ORLEANS — David West and the New Orleans Hornets sure looked happy to be at home.
West had career playoff highs of 38 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots, lifting New Orleans to a 101-79 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night and a 3-2 series lead.
New Orleans looked impressive in winning the first two games at home but stumbled in San Antonio. Back in the Big Easy, the Hornets cruised again.
Chris Paul had 16 of his 22 points in the second half and added 14 assists for New Orleans, which has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs.
Manu Ginobili led San Antonio with 20 points and Tony Parker had 18. The Hornets held Tim Duncan to 10 points, though Duncan was a force on the glass with 23 rebounds.
Game 6 is Thursday night in San Antonio, where the Spurs are 5-0 in the postseason. SAN ANTONIO (79 ) B. Bowen 4-5 0-0 10, Duncan 5-18 0-1 10, Thomas 1-6 0-0 2, Parker 7-14 3-5 18, Ginobili 5-15 7-8 20, Oberto 1-2 0-0 2, Finley 1-6 0-0 2, Horry 0-0 1-2 1, Barry 1-4 1-2 3, Stoudamire 1-1 0-0 2, Udoka 3-6 0-0 9, Vaughn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-77 12-18 79. NEW ORLEANS (101 ) Stojakovic 3-8 2-2 9, West 16-25 6-7 38, Chandler 2-5 0-2 4, Paul 6-18 9-11 22, Peterson 4-9 0-0 12, Ely 0-1 2-2 2, Pargo 2-6 5-5 10, Wells 0-1 0-2 0, Wright 0-2 0-0 0, Armstrong 0-0 1-2 1, R. Bowen 0-0 0-0 0, James 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 34-76 25-33 101. San Antonio.................... 23 24 11 21 — 79 New Orleans.................... 21 23 28 29 — 101 3-Point Goals—San Antonio 9-23 (Udoka 3-4, Ginobili 3-7, B. Bowen 2-3, Parker 1-3, Finley 0-3, Barry 0-3 ), New Orleans 8-15 (Peterson 4-6, James 1-1, Paul 1-2, Stojakovic 1-2, Pargo 1-4 ). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—San Antonio 46 (Duncan 23 ), New Orleans 58 (West 14 ). Assists—San Antonio 20 (Ginobili 7 ), New Orleans 24 (Paul 14 ). Total Fouls—San Antonio 30, New Orleans 23. Technicals—Oberto, San Antonio coach Popovich, Ely. Attendance—18, 246 (17, 200 ).