NBA Playoffs: Pistons cast Magic aside

Wednesday May 14, 2008
AUBURN HILLS - Richard Hamilton scored 29 points as the Detroit Pistons secured their sixth straight trip to the Eastern Conference finals with a 91-86 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game Five of their conference semi-finals series.

Antonio McDyess contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who nearly blew a 10-point lead with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter but held on to await the winner of the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers series.

Holding a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter, Orlando did not score from the field until the 3:35 mark of the final period on a jumper by Keith Bogans, while the Magic also committed 21 turnovers leading to 34 points for Detroit.

But despite their sloppy play, the Magic would not go away after falling behind 82-72 on McDyess' free throw with 3:49 left in the game.

Orlando cut the deficit to one point on Turkoglu's running lay-up with 40 seconds left but, after two free throws by Hamilton, Turkoglu chose to go for a quick two and was blocked by Detroit forward Tayshaun Prince with 12 ticks left.

Turkoglu had 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Orlando, who did not score from the field until the 3:35 mark of the final period and committed 21 turnovers leading to 34 points for Detroit.

The Pistons, who were playing their second straight game without All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups, will get a chance for his strained right hamstring to heal ahead of Game One of the conference finals.

Rookie Rodney Stuckey scored 15 points in Billups' absence for Detroit, who committed just three turnovers - none after the first quarter.

Dwight Howard, who has been quiet offensively in the series, collected 14 points and 17 rebounds for the Magic.