Rashard Lewis scores career playoff-high 33 as Magic beat Pistons 111-86 to make series 2-1
Associated Press | May 7, 08 10:05 PM CDT
Rashard Lewis scored a career playoff-high 33 points Wednesday and Orlando beat Detroit 111-86 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Magic's first win in the series.
The Pistons lost point guard Chauncey Billups just four minutes into the game when he drove to the basket and got tangled up with Orlando's Jameer Nelson. Nelson's leg caught Billups' foot, and Billups fell hard to the court with a strained right hamstring. Billups was averaging 17.5 points in the postseason and had 28 against the Magic in Game 2.
Game 4 is Saturday in Orlando.
Richard Hamilton scored 24 points for Detroit. With Billups out, rookie Rodney Stuckey stepped up big for the Pistons, scoring 19 points _ nine in the second quarter.
Dwight Howard had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, who saw Detroit get within 73-69 at the end of the third quarter but pulled away again.
The Magic had lost nine straight playoff games to the Pistons, tied for the fourth-longest streak in NBA history, including a first-round sweep last season.
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