Final: Orlando Magic 102 - Detroit Pistons 100
January 21, 2008 - Amway Arena
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By Nick Adams | OrlandoMagic.com
RECAP
Rashard Lewis hit a running 10-foot bank shot of the glass at the buzzer to give the Magic a 102-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Chauncey Billups tied the game at 100 with a deep three-point shot giving the ball back to the Magic with 3.5 seconds remaining setting the stage for Lewis' heroics.
The Magic snap a nine game losing streak against the Pistons while winning their third straight game at Amway Arena.
Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 26 points and a game-high eight assists while Dwight Howard and Lewis added 23 and 16 points respectively.
Detroit (29-13) had six players score in double figures with Richard Hamilton leading the way with 21 points in the losing effort.
The Magic shot a tremendous 50.8 percent from the field on their way to outscoring the Pistons in fast-break points, points in the paint, and bench scoring.
Orlando (26-17) has little time to celebrate as they head back out onto the road to visit the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night.
FOURTH QUARTER
The teams trade baskets to begin the fourth and Keyon Dooling puts the Magic up by four nailing a jumper from the right wing.
Orlando has shot the ball extremely well tonight converting on nearly 54 percent of their field goal attempts and have dominated in the paint outscoring the Pistons 38-26 down low.
The Pistons regain the lead as Rodney Stuckey converts a runner and Howard gets hacked at the other end sending him to the charity stripe. Howard can't convert on either as the Pistons cling to a 85-84 lead at the halfway point in the fourth.
Turk comes up big in the fourth quarters because he is the only Magic player who takes the ball to the basket and draws fouls. Especially at home...the fourth quarter is a great time to take the ball to the basket because you should get some calls and should draw them fairly easily against players who are fatigued.
Turk buckets two from the charity stripe to make it a one point game. Lewis nails a huge three from the corner to give the Magic a 90-88 lead.
It's "Turk Time"...Turk banks in a runner to put the Magic up by four but the Pistons quickly answer. Turk takes it to the basket and finishes on another layin as the Amway crowd goes crazy.
Hamilton nails an impossible fading three from the corner to cut the Magic lead to one. Bogans finally learns from Turk and takes the ball to the hoop strong and draws a foul. He hits both from the charity stripe and puts the Magic ahead 96-93 with 2:45 left in the game.
Turk is on a mission and drives hard to the basket once again drawing a foul sending him to the line for two more. Hedo calmly strokes both putting the Magic ahead by five. Turk leads the Magic in fourth quarter scoring averaging nearly six points and has nine so far in tonight's game.
"Mr. Big Shot" Chauncey Billups nails a jumper to bring the Pistons within three. A great defensive play by Rashard Lewis blocking a shot by Tayshaun Price leads to a foul on Keyon Dooling. Dooling heads to the line and nails two free-throws to give the Magic a 100-95 lead as we approach a minute remaining in the fourth.
Billups makes two from the free-throw line and a Rasheed Wallace three goes halfway down and comes out...a Howard tip does the same thing at the other end and the Pistons control the ball with 9.5 seconds left trailing 100-97.
Billups comes off a screen...fumbles the ball...and throws up a three from near mid-court...he nails it and the ballgame is tied at 100 with 3.6 left.
Everyone is on their feet for the final possession...Lewis gets the pass at the top of the key...drives to his right...pulls up and banks home a jumper at the buzzer...MAGIC WIN! What a game!
Final: Orlando Magic 102, Detroit Pistons 100
THIRD QUARTER
The Magic have a 19-7 record when leading at halftime this season, so let's hope they can continue that trend tonight. Rasheed Wallace and Dwight Howard start a battle to begin the second half and Howard nets two from the charity stripe to maintain a five point advantage.
The Pistons game-plan at haltime must have been to get Rasheed the basketball because they have looked for him on the left block every possession thus far. Howard is getting abused down low and heads to the free-throw line again. Dwight splits the pair and gives the Magic a 61-55 advantage three minutes into the third period.
Tayshaun Prince caps off a 7-0 Pistons run netting a triple forcing Van Gundy to call a timeout with the Magic trailing 62-61.
A free-throw from Turk ties the ballgame up at 64 as we hit the halfway point in the third period.
The back-and-forth game continues and a trey by Brian Cook brings the Amway crowd to their feet and forces a Detroit timeout with the game all knotted up at 71 with 3:42 left in the third.
The Magic execute a nice pick-and-roll as Arroyo feeds a cutting Howard who buckets a layup plus a foul. Howard converts the three-point play but Billups answers right back with a jumper.
Turk starts warming up for his fourth quarter as he strokes a three from the top of the key to give the Magic a two point lead as we approach one minute remaining in the third.
Dooling throws down a two-handed slam with authority to end the third quarter.
End of Third: Orlando Magic 80, Detroit Pistons 78
SECOND QUARTER
The Pistons start the second quarter with a full-court run-and-jump press and it has gotten the Magic out of their rhythm offensively. Lewis finally finishes a layup at the ten minute mark but Rasheed answers drawing a timeout from Van Gundy with the Magic trailing 36-28.
Arroyo and Bogans connect on two nice feeds from Turk to cut the Pistons lead down to three points. Arroyo makes a flashy spin move and drives hard to the basket drawing a foul sending him to the free-throw line. Arroyo splits the pair and the Pistons still lead 36-34 at the halfway point in the second period.
Turk puts the Magic ahead netting a three from the top of the key but Jason Maxiell answers quickly with a two-handed tip dunk to put the Pistons back on top.
The back-and-forth game continues and D12 throws down a dunk on Hedo Turkoglu's fourth assist of the half to give the Magic a 41-40 advantage.
It's a playoff atmosphere here tonight as both teams are running up and down the floor and the crowd is responding to every move and dribble. Turk finishes an easy layin and the officials finally stop the game with a timeout and the Magic leading 46-45 with three minutes remaining in the first half.
Lewis brings the Amway crowd to their feet with a trey from the corner. The intensity increases and a Turkoglu transition layup brings the house down and gives the Magic a 53-46 lead as we head under a minute remaining in the second quarter.
The Magic's main trio of Lewis, Turk, and Howard have really stepped up tonight...Howard has 15 points, Lewis has 11, and Turk has nine points to go with five assists.
Billups cans two free-throws to end a very entertaining first half with the Magic leading 55-49.
Halftime: Orlando Magic 55, Detroit Pistons 49
FIRST QUARTER
Welcome Magic fans to Amway Arena for tonight's match-up as the Magic set to square off against the Detroit Pistons.
The Magic start Arroyo, Evans, Turkoglu, Lewis, and Howard...the Pistons counter with Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess, and Rasheed Wallace.
Orlando wins the opening tip and Dwight Howard quickly gets things going with a monster slam and follows at the other end with a block shot on Rasheed Wallace. Evans makes a pretty move to the basket and finishes a layin as the Magic are off to a great start leading 4-0.
The Pistons go on a 7-0 run to take the lead but Rashard Lewis ends the streak with a floater off the glass. Rasheed strokes a three from the top of the key and Lewis answers again with a shot identical to his last one. Lewis keeps his good start going stealing a Detroit pass and taking it coast-to-coast for a slam.
Detroit scores on back-to-back easy buckets but Bogans answers with his trademark three-pointer from the corner on a nice feed from Hedo. The game is a track meet and a Dwight Howard bucket makes the score 17-15 Pistons at the halfway mark in the first quarter.
Dooling nails an 18-foot jumper but Richard Hamilton answers with a triple to put the Pistons ahead 24-17 as we head inside of three minutes remaining in the opening period.
Both teams have come out shooting the ball well converting on over half of their field goal attempts. The Magic isolate Dwight Howard down low and Dwight throws in a hook plus the foul...he makes the free-throw to bring the Magic within four points.
Tayshaun Prince scores back-to-back baskets to give the Pistons a six point advantage but Turk answers quickly with a layup. Prince throws in another basket and Howard answers with his ninth point of the opening quarter as it concludes.
End of First: Detroit Pistons 30, Orlando Magic 26
KEYS TO THE GAME
Play With Intensity On Defense
The Magic had a very good defensive performance this past Saturday against the Trail Blazers and must continue to play with that same intensity at the defensive end if they want to beat a Detroit team who is 18-0 when scoring 100 plus points.
Play With Confidence
Most of the players talked at this morning's shootaround about coming out and playing with confidence...it's one thing to talk about it, but it is another to actually go out and execute it. Having lost nine straight to the Pistons, the Magic must forget the past and come into tonight's game with the mind set that they can beat the Pistons.
Contain Rasheed
Rasheed Wallace, as annoying and obnoxious as he is, is the oil which keeps the Pistons running. Rasheed creates match-up problems for the Magic because of his versatility at the offensive end. Either a weaker, shorter Rashard Lewis will guard Rasheed or Dwight Howard will have to guard Wallace which brings the Magic's main interior defender out of the paint opening up the lane for the Pistons to operate.
The Magic must find a way to somehow contain Rasheed and hold him below his average because the Pistons are nearly unbeatable when he scores 20 or more points.
SHOOTAROUND
Shootaround had a different feel Monday morning as the Magic plan to square off against their arch-nemisis the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit has owned the Magic of late and although the guys may say they are treating the game no differently...one could sense the extra focus on tonight's match-up.
"I told the guys that nothing in the past makes a difference unless you make it a difference," said head coach Stan Van Gundy. "The fact of the matter is that Detroit has just played better than we have and we have to raise our game to their level."
If anyone would know about the level in which Detroit plays, it would be starting shooting guard Maurice Evans who spent one season with Detroit in the 2005-2006 campaign.
"They are very resilient and their core has been together for a number of years," added Evans. "They are a mentally tough team who comes out a plays hard every single night."
Detroit's core players have been together for a number of years and much of their success comes from the team chemistry they have built.
"They are a veteran team who has played together for so long and they know each other so well on the floor," Hedo Turkoglu stated.
"They are a veteran team who has won for a long time and their core guys have been together for a long time," Van Gundy added. "They play their best against the best teams and rise to the occasion when they face tough opponents."
The Pistons are 11-1 this season against the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference, and if they Magic want to compete against Detroit they must increase their level of play.
"We have to come out and play as hard as we can at both ends of the floor and do it with a lot of confidence," commented Dwight Howard.
"In order to compete with the Pistons we have to play at an extremely high energy and intensity level," Van Gundy stated. "You can't back down for a single possession against them and most importantly you have to minimize your mistakes because they will take advantage of the ones you make."
Detroit takes advantage of your mistakes and doesn't make very many of their own as they lead the NBA in fewest turnovers committing just 11.6 per contest.
Van Gundy continued, "They don't make very many mistakes and will take advantage of any miss-matches they will see so we have to be aware of that."
Miss-matches are a big part of the Pistons game because they come at you with a balanced attack with each starter averaging in double figures.
"They are probably the most balanced team in the league and can score in so many ways," commented Van Gundy, "so you can't focus on just one guy and we must play them tough at every position."
Orlando seems focused and ready to end their losing streak against the Pistons while extending their two game winning streak tonight at Amway Arena.
PREGAME
The Magic will hope to extend their two game winning streak at Amway Arena Monday night against the Detroit Pistons.
Orlando will also seek revenge versus a Pistons team who swept the Magic in the playoffs a season ago and has won the last nine meetings between the two teams.
The two teams last met in early November and the Pistons cruised to a 116-92 victory despite the absence of their leading scorer Richard Hamilton.
Hamilton (18.7 ppg) and point guard Chauncey Billups (17.9 ppg, 7.2 apg) form one of the league's top backcourts and have led the Pistons into a tie for the second best record in the NBA at 29-12.
Detroit has been the class of the Eastern Conference for the last couple of years thanks to great team chemistry and defense.
This season has been no different as all five starters average in double figures and they rank in the top three in opponent's scoring (90.1 ppg), opponent field goal percentage (.439), and opponent three-point percentage (.329).
Detroit visits Amway having lost their last two games and the Magic would like nothing more but to extend that streak to three on Monday night.
MAGIC INJURY REPORT
Tony Battie – Out, torn rotator cuff, left shoulder – underwent successful surgery on Oct. 24; will likely miss the entire season.
Jameer Nelson – Day-to-day, strained tendon, right foot.
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
Jan. 21 vs. Detroit (Orlando, FL): Orlando is 28-41 all-time vs. Detroit (19-16 at home, 9-25 on the road) during regular season action, including 0-1 this season (see recap below)…The Magic went 0-4 last season against the Pistons…Orlando is 6-8 vs. Detroit in the playoffs (2-0 at home, 1-0 on the road, 1996 first round; 2-1 at home, 1-3 on the road, 2003 first round; 0-2 at home, 0-2 on the road, 2007 first round)...Orlando has lost 15 of the last 18 regular season meetings with the Pistons overall...The Magic have lost eight of the last 10 matchups at home, but won 19 of the last 29…Orlando has lost the last six at Detroit and 11 of the last 13 at The Palace…Carlos Arroyo spent parts of two seasons (2004-05, 2005-06) with the Pistons…Maurice Evans played 80 games for the Pistons in 2005-06…Assistant GM Dave Twardzik served as an assistant coach for the Pistons in 2000-01…Assistant Coach Brendan Malone served on the Pistons’ bench for seven seasons from 1988-95 and helped them capture back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990…For last season’s stats and Magic career numbers vs. Detroit, see p. 247 of the media guide…Nov. 2 vs. Detroit – Pistons 116, Magic 92: Six Pistons scored in double figures, led by Flip Murray’s 19 points, as Detroit defeated Orlando, 116-92, at a sold-out Amway Arena. Chauncey Billups tallied 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Tayshaun Prince added 17 points. The Pistons shot 58.9 percent from the field. Orlando’s Rashard Lewis led all scorers with 21 points, including a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line. Dwight Howard tallied 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. After leading 30-28 following the first quarter, Orlando was outscored 36-25 during the second quarter and trailed 64-55 at halftime. Detroit opened the second half with a 10-0 run and never looked back, leading by as many as 25 points.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. PISTONS: 46 pts., Tracy McGrady (@ Orlando, 12-25-02); Shaquille O’Neal (@ Detroit, 2-16-93)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 42 pts., Grant Hill (@ Orlando, 1-3-00)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| PISTONS | 30 | 19 | 29 | 22 | 100 |
| MAGIC | 26 | 29 | 25 | 22 | 102 |
By Nick Adams | OrlandoMagic.com
RECAP
Rashard Lewis hit a running 10-foot bank shot of the glass at the buzzer to give the Magic a 102-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Chauncey Billups tied the game at 100 with a deep three-point shot giving the ball back to the Magic with 3.5 seconds remaining setting the stage for Lewis' heroics.
The Magic snap a nine game losing streak against the Pistons while winning their third straight game at Amway Arena.
Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 26 points and a game-high eight assists while Dwight Howard and Lewis added 23 and 16 points respectively.
Detroit (29-13) had six players score in double figures with Richard Hamilton leading the way with 21 points in the losing effort.
The Magic shot a tremendous 50.8 percent from the field on their way to outscoring the Pistons in fast-break points, points in the paint, and bench scoring.
Orlando (26-17) has little time to celebrate as they head back out onto the road to visit the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night.
FOURTH QUARTER
The teams trade baskets to begin the fourth and Keyon Dooling puts the Magic up by four nailing a jumper from the right wing.
Orlando has shot the ball extremely well tonight converting on nearly 54 percent of their field goal attempts and have dominated in the paint outscoring the Pistons 38-26 down low.
The Pistons regain the lead as Rodney Stuckey converts a runner and Howard gets hacked at the other end sending him to the charity stripe. Howard can't convert on either as the Pistons cling to a 85-84 lead at the halfway point in the fourth.
Turk comes up big in the fourth quarters because he is the only Magic player who takes the ball to the basket and draws fouls. Especially at home...the fourth quarter is a great time to take the ball to the basket because you should get some calls and should draw them fairly easily against players who are fatigued.
Turk buckets two from the charity stripe to make it a one point game. Lewis nails a huge three from the corner to give the Magic a 90-88 lead.
It's "Turk Time"...Turk banks in a runner to put the Magic up by four but the Pistons quickly answer. Turk takes it to the basket and finishes on another layin as the Amway crowd goes crazy.
Hamilton nails an impossible fading three from the corner to cut the Magic lead to one. Bogans finally learns from Turk and takes the ball to the hoop strong and draws a foul. He hits both from the charity stripe and puts the Magic ahead 96-93 with 2:45 left in the game.
Turk is on a mission and drives hard to the basket once again drawing a foul sending him to the line for two more. Hedo calmly strokes both putting the Magic ahead by five. Turk leads the Magic in fourth quarter scoring averaging nearly six points and has nine so far in tonight's game.
"Mr. Big Shot" Chauncey Billups nails a jumper to bring the Pistons within three. A great defensive play by Rashard Lewis blocking a shot by Tayshaun Price leads to a foul on Keyon Dooling. Dooling heads to the line and nails two free-throws to give the Magic a 100-95 lead as we approach a minute remaining in the fourth.
Billups makes two from the free-throw line and a Rasheed Wallace three goes halfway down and comes out...a Howard tip does the same thing at the other end and the Pistons control the ball with 9.5 seconds left trailing 100-97.
Billups comes off a screen...fumbles the ball...and throws up a three from near mid-court...he nails it and the ballgame is tied at 100 with 3.6 left.
Everyone is on their feet for the final possession...Lewis gets the pass at the top of the key...drives to his right...pulls up and banks home a jumper at the buzzer...MAGIC WIN! What a game!
Final: Orlando Magic 102, Detroit Pistons 100
THIRD QUARTER
The Magic have a 19-7 record when leading at halftime this season, so let's hope they can continue that trend tonight. Rasheed Wallace and Dwight Howard start a battle to begin the second half and Howard nets two from the charity stripe to maintain a five point advantage.
The Pistons game-plan at haltime must have been to get Rasheed the basketball because they have looked for him on the left block every possession thus far. Howard is getting abused down low and heads to the free-throw line again. Dwight splits the pair and gives the Magic a 61-55 advantage three minutes into the third period.
Tayshaun Prince caps off a 7-0 Pistons run netting a triple forcing Van Gundy to call a timeout with the Magic trailing 62-61.
A free-throw from Turk ties the ballgame up at 64 as we hit the halfway point in the third period.
The back-and-forth game continues and a trey by Brian Cook brings the Amway crowd to their feet and forces a Detroit timeout with the game all knotted up at 71 with 3:42 left in the third.
The Magic execute a nice pick-and-roll as Arroyo feeds a cutting Howard who buckets a layup plus a foul. Howard converts the three-point play but Billups answers right back with a jumper.
Turk starts warming up for his fourth quarter as he strokes a three from the top of the key to give the Magic a two point lead as we approach one minute remaining in the third.
Dooling throws down a two-handed slam with authority to end the third quarter.
End of Third: Orlando Magic 80, Detroit Pistons 78
SECOND QUARTER
The Pistons start the second quarter with a full-court run-and-jump press and it has gotten the Magic out of their rhythm offensively. Lewis finally finishes a layup at the ten minute mark but Rasheed answers drawing a timeout from Van Gundy with the Magic trailing 36-28.
Arroyo and Bogans connect on two nice feeds from Turk to cut the Pistons lead down to three points. Arroyo makes a flashy spin move and drives hard to the basket drawing a foul sending him to the free-throw line. Arroyo splits the pair and the Pistons still lead 36-34 at the halfway point in the second period.
Turk puts the Magic ahead netting a three from the top of the key but Jason Maxiell answers quickly with a two-handed tip dunk to put the Pistons back on top.
The back-and-forth game continues and D12 throws down a dunk on Hedo Turkoglu's fourth assist of the half to give the Magic a 41-40 advantage.
It's a playoff atmosphere here tonight as both teams are running up and down the floor and the crowd is responding to every move and dribble. Turk finishes an easy layin and the officials finally stop the game with a timeout and the Magic leading 46-45 with three minutes remaining in the first half.
Lewis brings the Amway crowd to their feet with a trey from the corner. The intensity increases and a Turkoglu transition layup brings the house down and gives the Magic a 53-46 lead as we head under a minute remaining in the second quarter.
The Magic's main trio of Lewis, Turk, and Howard have really stepped up tonight...Howard has 15 points, Lewis has 11, and Turk has nine points to go with five assists.
Billups cans two free-throws to end a very entertaining first half with the Magic leading 55-49.
Halftime: Orlando Magic 55, Detroit Pistons 49
FIRST QUARTER
Welcome Magic fans to Amway Arena for tonight's match-up as the Magic set to square off against the Detroit Pistons.
The Magic start Arroyo, Evans, Turkoglu, Lewis, and Howard...the Pistons counter with Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess, and Rasheed Wallace.
Orlando wins the opening tip and Dwight Howard quickly gets things going with a monster slam and follows at the other end with a block shot on Rasheed Wallace. Evans makes a pretty move to the basket and finishes a layin as the Magic are off to a great start leading 4-0.
The Pistons go on a 7-0 run to take the lead but Rashard Lewis ends the streak with a floater off the glass. Rasheed strokes a three from the top of the key and Lewis answers again with a shot identical to his last one. Lewis keeps his good start going stealing a Detroit pass and taking it coast-to-coast for a slam.
Detroit scores on back-to-back easy buckets but Bogans answers with his trademark three-pointer from the corner on a nice feed from Hedo. The game is a track meet and a Dwight Howard bucket makes the score 17-15 Pistons at the halfway mark in the first quarter.
Dooling nails an 18-foot jumper but Richard Hamilton answers with a triple to put the Pistons ahead 24-17 as we head inside of three minutes remaining in the opening period.
Both teams have come out shooting the ball well converting on over half of their field goal attempts. The Magic isolate Dwight Howard down low and Dwight throws in a hook plus the foul...he makes the free-throw to bring the Magic within four points.
Tayshaun Prince scores back-to-back baskets to give the Pistons a six point advantage but Turk answers quickly with a layup. Prince throws in another basket and Howard answers with his ninth point of the opening quarter as it concludes.
End of First: Detroit Pistons 30, Orlando Magic 26
KEYS TO THE GAME
Play With Intensity On Defense
The Magic had a very good defensive performance this past Saturday against the Trail Blazers and must continue to play with that same intensity at the defensive end if they want to beat a Detroit team who is 18-0 when scoring 100 plus points.
Play With Confidence
Most of the players talked at this morning's shootaround about coming out and playing with confidence...it's one thing to talk about it, but it is another to actually go out and execute it. Having lost nine straight to the Pistons, the Magic must forget the past and come into tonight's game with the mind set that they can beat the Pistons.
Contain Rasheed
Rasheed Wallace, as annoying and obnoxious as he is, is the oil which keeps the Pistons running. Rasheed creates match-up problems for the Magic because of his versatility at the offensive end. Either a weaker, shorter Rashard Lewis will guard Rasheed or Dwight Howard will have to guard Wallace which brings the Magic's main interior defender out of the paint opening up the lane for the Pistons to operate.
The Magic must find a way to somehow contain Rasheed and hold him below his average because the Pistons are nearly unbeatable when he scores 20 or more points.
SHOOTAROUND
Shootaround had a different feel Monday morning as the Magic plan to square off against their arch-nemisis the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit has owned the Magic of late and although the guys may say they are treating the game no differently...one could sense the extra focus on tonight's match-up.
"I told the guys that nothing in the past makes a difference unless you make it a difference," said head coach Stan Van Gundy. "The fact of the matter is that Detroit has just played better than we have and we have to raise our game to their level."
If anyone would know about the level in which Detroit plays, it would be starting shooting guard Maurice Evans who spent one season with Detroit in the 2005-2006 campaign.
"They are very resilient and their core has been together for a number of years," added Evans. "They are a mentally tough team who comes out a plays hard every single night."
Detroit's core players have been together for a number of years and much of their success comes from the team chemistry they have built.
"They are a veteran team who has played together for so long and they know each other so well on the floor," Hedo Turkoglu stated.
"They are a veteran team who has won for a long time and their core guys have been together for a long time," Van Gundy added. "They play their best against the best teams and rise to the occasion when they face tough opponents."
The Pistons are 11-1 this season against the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference, and if they Magic want to compete against Detroit they must increase their level of play.
"We have to come out and play as hard as we can at both ends of the floor and do it with a lot of confidence," commented Dwight Howard.
"In order to compete with the Pistons we have to play at an extremely high energy and intensity level," Van Gundy stated. "You can't back down for a single possession against them and most importantly you have to minimize your mistakes because they will take advantage of the ones you make."
Detroit takes advantage of your mistakes and doesn't make very many of their own as they lead the NBA in fewest turnovers committing just 11.6 per contest.
Van Gundy continued, "They don't make very many mistakes and will take advantage of any miss-matches they will see so we have to be aware of that."
Miss-matches are a big part of the Pistons game because they come at you with a balanced attack with each starter averaging in double figures.
"They are probably the most balanced team in the league and can score in so many ways," commented Van Gundy, "so you can't focus on just one guy and we must play them tough at every position."
Orlando seems focused and ready to end their losing streak against the Pistons while extending their two game winning streak tonight at Amway Arena.
PREGAME
The Magic will hope to extend their two game winning streak at Amway Arena Monday night against the Detroit Pistons.
Orlando will also seek revenge versus a Pistons team who swept the Magic in the playoffs a season ago and has won the last nine meetings between the two teams.
The two teams last met in early November and the Pistons cruised to a 116-92 victory despite the absence of their leading scorer Richard Hamilton.
Hamilton (18.7 ppg) and point guard Chauncey Billups (17.9 ppg, 7.2 apg) form one of the league's top backcourts and have led the Pistons into a tie for the second best record in the NBA at 29-12.
Detroit has been the class of the Eastern Conference for the last couple of years thanks to great team chemistry and defense.
This season has been no different as all five starters average in double figures and they rank in the top three in opponent's scoring (90.1 ppg), opponent field goal percentage (.439), and opponent three-point percentage (.329).
Detroit visits Amway having lost their last two games and the Magic would like nothing more but to extend that streak to three on Monday night.
MAGIC INJURY REPORT
Tony Battie – Out, torn rotator cuff, left shoulder – underwent successful surgery on Oct. 24; will likely miss the entire season.
Jameer Nelson – Day-to-day, strained tendon, right foot.
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
Jan. 21 vs. Detroit (Orlando, FL): Orlando is 28-41 all-time vs. Detroit (19-16 at home, 9-25 on the road) during regular season action, including 0-1 this season (see recap below)…The Magic went 0-4 last season against the Pistons…Orlando is 6-8 vs. Detroit in the playoffs (2-0 at home, 1-0 on the road, 1996 first round; 2-1 at home, 1-3 on the road, 2003 first round; 0-2 at home, 0-2 on the road, 2007 first round)...Orlando has lost 15 of the last 18 regular season meetings with the Pistons overall...The Magic have lost eight of the last 10 matchups at home, but won 19 of the last 29…Orlando has lost the last six at Detroit and 11 of the last 13 at The Palace…Carlos Arroyo spent parts of two seasons (2004-05, 2005-06) with the Pistons…Maurice Evans played 80 games for the Pistons in 2005-06…Assistant GM Dave Twardzik served as an assistant coach for the Pistons in 2000-01…Assistant Coach Brendan Malone served on the Pistons’ bench for seven seasons from 1988-95 and helped them capture back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990…For last season’s stats and Magic career numbers vs. Detroit, see p. 247 of the media guide…Nov. 2 vs. Detroit – Pistons 116, Magic 92: Six Pistons scored in double figures, led by Flip Murray’s 19 points, as Detroit defeated Orlando, 116-92, at a sold-out Amway Arena. Chauncey Billups tallied 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Tayshaun Prince added 17 points. The Pistons shot 58.9 percent from the field. Orlando’s Rashard Lewis led all scorers with 21 points, including a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line. Dwight Howard tallied 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. After leading 30-28 following the first quarter, Orlando was outscored 36-25 during the second quarter and trailed 64-55 at halftime. Detroit opened the second half with a 10-0 run and never looked back, leading by as many as 25 points.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. PISTONS: 46 pts., Tracy McGrady (@ Orlando, 12-25-02); Shaquille O’Neal (@ Detroit, 2-16-93)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 42 pts., Grant Hill (@ Orlando, 1-3-00)
