AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Hedo Turkoglu’s uncontested dunk early in the second half gave the Orlando Magic their first lead. Less than a minute later, the Detroit Pistons took over.
Chauncey Billups had 19 points, seven assists and played a key role in the decisive run of the game, leading Detroit to a 91-72 win over Orlando on Saturday night in Game 1 of the second-round series.
Dwight Howard had a relatively quiet night with 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks after being the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds in three playoff games since Wilt Chamberlain did it in 1972.
Howard played for much of the second half with blue tape wrapped around his left hand, seemingly to protect his thumb he injured after trying to grab a rebound.
After Turkoglu’s dunk and the ensuing timeout Pistons coach Flip Saunders called, the Magic took their last lead with 10:08 left in the third quarter.
Then, Detroit went on its first of two big runs in the second half to take a a 64-49 lead.
Orlando rallied to trail by just seven points entering the fourth despite making only 1-of-10 3-pointers and 7-of-16 free throws.
Jason Maxiell squashed any comeback hopes the Magic had.
Detroit’s power forward, starting again for Antonio McDyess, scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter with surprising touch on jumpers and free throws. He helped the second-seeded team build an 18-point lead it didn’t have trouble maintaining with the starters resting on the bench.
The Pistons will host Game 2 Monday night.
Detroit’s backcourt gave Orlando a lot of problems.
Billups blew past the Magic whenever he wanted and Richard Hamilton got open around screens to score 17 points.
Tayshaun Prince also had 12 points for the Pistons.
Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis both scored 18 for the Magic, who didn’t get much offensively out of anybody other than those two and Howard.
The next-leading scorers for them were Jameer Nelson and Keyon Dooling, both of whom scored seven points.
Orlando relied on 3-point shooting to eliminate the Toronto Raptors in five games, but made just two of 15 against the Pistons. It also struggled at the line, missing half of its 20 attempts.
The game was tied at 22 after the first quarter and Detroit led by only a point at halftime.
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