An aggressive Will Bynum scored 10 of his
20 points in the final quarter, helping Detroit beat Orlando, 85-80, as the
Pistons handed the Magic their first loss of the season.
Ben Gordon made all 11 of his foul shots, on the way to 23 points for the
Pistons. Rodney Stuckey added 20 points and nine rebounds in the physical
affair.
The Pistons, who bounced back from losses against Oklahoma City and Milwaukee,
went 31-of-38 at the foul line. They used a 10-0 run late in the contest to
beat the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Vince Carter had 15 points and JJ Redick tallied 14 for the Magic, who were
denied their first 4-0 start in team history. Dwight Howard, who ended with
just eight points and five boards, fouled out with 3:41 remaining when Bynum
drove to the hoop.
Howard left the game early in the third quarter with a strained right
shoulder, but returned later in the period. He was fouled hard by Rodney
Stuckey and landed hard on the shoulder.
It was the second straight game Howard left with the shoulder issue. He
momentarily departed Sunday's victory at Toronto but came back to start the
second half.
The Pistons were without two of their big weapons. Forward Tayshaun Prince sat
out due to a strained lower back as his playing streak was snapped at 496
games. Richard Hamilton sat out his third consecutive contest due to a
sprained right ankle.
Bynum left the game midway through the fourth quarter after being hit
inadvertently in the eye by Orlando's Marcin Gortat. He came back though, and
his drive on Howard led to a pair of free throws, tying the game at 77. That
was also the start of the game-changing 10-0 run.
Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva each hit a free throw for a 79-77 margin, and
Bynum drilled a jumper over Jameer Nelson for a four-point lead with 1:34
remaining.
Orlando failed at every turn down the stretch. Brandon Bass missed a jumper
and then Ryan Anderson, who ended 2-of-14 from the floor, was whistled for an
offensive foul for plowing into Villanueva with 40.9 ticks left.
Gordon and Villanueva each hit two foul shots in the closing 14.6 seconds.
The Pistons held a 19-14 edge after 12 minutes, but Orlando rallied for a
26-23 lead early in the second. The visitors held a 41-38 advantage at the
half.
Carter's three-pointer extended the difference to 47-41 early in the third,
but Detroit netted the next eight points. It was tied at 60 moving to the
fourth.
Game Notes
Orlando's Mickael Pietrus missed the contest due to flu-like symptoms...The
Magic fell to 10-29 vs. Detroit on the road...Detroit swept a three-game
season series between the two clubs a year ago and has won 10 of the past 11
games in the series played at The Palace...Matt Barnes scored 11 for Orlando,
while Villanueva tallied 12 for Detroit.
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