News / Sports
NBA Scores: Pistons Blast Magic, Take 3-0 Series Lead
Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and handed out 5 assists while Chauncey Billups added 21 points and 5 boards to lead the Detroit Pistons past the Orlando Magic 93-77 in game three of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Orlando opened the game scoring the first eight points and led by six with just over a minute remaining in the period but Detroit closed out on a 6-0 spurt to tie the game heading into the second.
Prince gave the Pistons the lead on a layup early in the second and the Pistons never surrendered their advantage. Orlando was able to pull to within one on a Jameer Nelson jumper with 25 seconds left in the half but Tayshaun hit a jumper with two seconds left and then Billups stole an inboards pas and drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Pistons a 48-42 lead at the break.
The second half belonged to the Pistons as Orlando could never mount a serious threat against the Eastern Conference’s top seeded team.
Detroit hit 8-13 from beyond the three-point line and grabbed 47 rebounds to control the glass.
Jameer Nelson led the Magic with 27 points while Dwight Howard finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
Both teams will meet again in Orlando on Saturday for game four of their best of seven series.
