Pistons-Magic Preview

By BRETT HUSTON
Posted Apr 09 2012 1:07PM

Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy seem to be on the same page - for now - but the Orlando Magic might have a new concern as they head down the stretch.

Howard's balky back will keep him out Monday night for the third time in five games, and the visiting Detroit Pistons will look to take advantage for the second time in less than a week.

Howard missed two games during Orlando's five-game skid with back spasms, and hardly appeared to be at full strength upon returning. He was held to eight points during the Magic's 96-80 loss in New York on Thursday night - hours after Van Gundy admitted he was told by management that Howard wanted him gone - and missed 10 of 14 shots Saturday at Philadelphia.

The three-time reigning defensive player of the year still finished with 20 points and 22 boards as Orlando beat the 76ers 88-82 to stop its slide, but the news wasn't all good. The Magic announced Monday morning that Howard wouldn't play against the Pistons and would also likely sit Tuesday at Washington to rest his back.

Orlando (33-23) has two days off after that game before hosting Atlanta on Friday.

Though there's nothing structurally wrong with Howard's back, the injury involves soft tissue, and Van Gundy told the team's official website Monday that Howard "paid a personal price" by playing Saturday.

At the time, though, the embattled coach was rather pleased with his team's perseverance against Philadelphia despite shooting just 36.3 percent.

"This is the best I've felt about this team the entire year," said Van Gundy, who Friday admitted he was prepared to "move on" from the latest saga with his star center.

Van Gundy certainly didn't feel good about his team last week against the Pistons (21-35). Detroit took full advantage of Howard's absence, shooting 56.6 percent and outscoring the Magic 56-30 in the paint in a 102-95 victory.

The Pistons have shot 50.7 percent in three consecutive wins over Orlando, and they've outrebounded the Magic by a combined 84-58 in two victories this season.

Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson also missed last week's meeting, but both could be on the floor Monday. Nelson, who missed the game with a sore left calf, is 5 for 26 in two games since returning - 1 for 14 from inside the 3-point line.

Anderson has missed the past three games with a sprained ankle, but said he felt good in Monday's shootaround and appears ready to return.

Detroit (21-35), though, has had Orlando's number lately with or without Anderson. The Pistons have won three straight in the series - two this season - as Ben Gordon has averaged 20.0 points on 51.2 percent shooting.

Gordon had 18 in last week's win against the Magic and 13 two days later in a 99-94 win over Washington, but has since been held to 15 points total in road losses to Atlanta and Miami.

Detroit had shot 52.1 percent in its previous four games before being held to 37.3 percent in Sunday's 98-75 loss at Miami.

Nineteen turnovers didn't help.

"They got all of the shots they wanted," said rookie Brandon Knight, who scored a team-high 16. "It was easy for them. We had turnovers, missed shots, and it all led to the lead piling up."

The Pistons, who have shot at least 50 percent in both wins this season against the Magic, fell to 11-32 when they don't hit at least half their shots.

Without Howard, Magic ease past Pistons 119-89

By KYLE HIGHTOWER
Posted Apr 09 2012 10:48PM

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said his team showed probably its most toughness of the season in grinding out a win against Philadelphia last week to end a five-game losing streak.

The Magic may not have had to display that same late-game vigor in their victory over Detroit on Monday night, but they certainly left their coach with plenty more to marvel at.

Jason Richardson hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points, J.J. Redick had 20 points and the Magic eased past the Pistons, 119-89.

Glen Davis added 16 points and 16 rebounds starting in place of center Dwight Howard, who missed his third game in two weeks with back spasms.

All five Orlando starters reached double figures in its first win this season over a Detroit team that normally can be counted on to play them tough.

Not on this night, though.

"Everybody's on one page and I've never felt like we've been on such a page," Davis said. "We've been a good team the whole year, but I think these last couple of games and especially the Philly game we've been on the same page. Defensively. Energy-wise. Everybody's been trying to read the same book."

The Magic also were playing without backup point guard Chris Duhon, who was suspended for the game for conduct detrimental to the team. It didn't matter, though, as their energy and falling shots overwhelmed a Detroit team that was playing its fourth game in five nights.

"There are going to be ups and downs with nine games to go. But I like the level we've played at the last two games and hopefully it will continue," Van Gundy said.

Tayshaun Prince led Detroit with 21 points and eight rebounds, and Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Collectively, though, it made little more than a dent against a Magic club that shot 53 percent (42 for 80) from the field and 54 percent (15 for 28) from the 3-point line.

The Pistons lost their third straight game since a three-game winning streak. They conclude their four-game road trip at Charlotte on Thursday.

"It's very embarrassing," Detroit coach Lawrence Frank said. "I think it's everything. (Being) mentally (and) physically, prepared to compete in an NBA game...But we've got to make a decision as a group, how we want to go forward. This is where character's revealed."

Said Villanueva: "We put that 4-20 start behind us and we have been playing good basketball since then. The past two games we have let our guard down and kind of forgotten what got us to this point."

With both Howard and Hedo Turkoglu (out for the regular-season with a facial fracture) missing from the starting lineup, Van Gundy inserted Davis and Redick into the lineup.

Neither player disappointed early, with Redick connecting from the outside and scoring eight first-quarter points, and Davis reaching double-double status just minutes into the second period.

Davis in particular, who has seen his minutes increase during Howard's recent injury, said he is trying to make the most of his extra time on the floor. He is averaging 21 points and 12 rebounds over his past five games

"I feel like I'm more frantic when I'm out there (playing) for 20 minutes, it's like `you got to do something,"' Davis said. "But when you're out there longer you get a rhythm, you get a flow and that's just my role right now. But when it changes, I'll just go out for 20 minutes and try to do the best I can."

Orlando also got an instant boost from the return of Ryan Anderson, who had missed the three previous games with a sprained right ankle. He finished with 14 points.

Even seldom-used point guard Ish Smith got into the act, making the most of his minutes playing in place of Duhon. Smith had five of his seven assists in just six minutes of action.

The Magic led by as many as 23 in the first half and the lead ballooned above 30 early in the third quarter.

It got almost comical how easily the ball was falling through the net for the Magic, with Richardson getting a high and very favorable bounce on a rushed 3-pointer in the second half.

The only sore spot was reserve forward Earl Clark getting ejected with 7.5 seconds to play in the game by referee Scott Foster for arguing a foul.

The blowout win might have been against a tired Pistons' team, but with each of their remaining games holding potential playoff seeding implications, the Magic will take wins where they can get them.

They began the night in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, trailing division mate Atlanta.

"I think obviously missing Dwight is a big piece and it just makes us have to play that much harder to get those hustle points and get those rebounds," Anderson said. "I think we did that...We know how good of a team we are and we've gone through a lot as a group. I think ultimately guys, everybody's playing hard...We're just really having each other's backs and working hard for each other."

Notes: The Magic improved to 22-4 this season when scoring at least 100 points. ... Redick made his 14th start this season. ... Pistons G Rodney Stuckey banged his knee at the end of the first half and did not return. ... Van Gundy said that the NBA office got back to the team about footage they sent showing what they believed was Dallas C Brendan Haywood punching Howard in the back while in the post during a recent game. Officials didn't find intentional malice on Haywood's part though. "They're saying that his fist was closed, but I guess they see it as a normal basketball play," Van Gundy said. "But I understand the difficulty for officials. There's so much contact and guys are so big and strong."

Notebook: Magic 119, Pistons 89

Posted Monday April 9, 2012 11:03PM

By Dick Scanlon, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Substituting for the injured Dwight Howard, Glen Davis gave the Orlando Magic a big first quarter, which proved to be all that was necessary in a 119-89 rout of the Detroit Pistons.

Davis scored six points and took down nine rebounds in the first quarter and finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds. The Magic pulled away in at the second quarter with a bombardment of 3-point baskets and shot 53 percent for the game.

Jason Richardson's game-high 22 points for the Magic included 6-of-7 3-point shooting.

Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 21 points, 13 of them in the first quarter.

Howard sat out the game with a sore lower back.

QUOTABLE: "Missing Dwight makes us play that much harder. We came together and decided that we wanted to do it with this group and we can do with with this group, and we played a great game."
-- Magic forward Ryan Anderson.

THE STAT: The Magic had two turnovers in the first half and only three by the time their lead reached 30 with 6:54 left in the third quarter.

QUOTABLE II: "When we don't turn the ball over and we're making shots and we're playing defense, we're tough. If we can put that altogether with Dwight and Turk (Hedo Turkoglu), we'll be a tough team to beat."
-- Magic center/forward Davis.

TURNING POINT: Detroit led, 12-10, when Earl Clark blocked Greg Monroe's dunk attempt. Orlando outscored the Pistons, 42-18, over the next 14 minutes.

HOT: The Magic made 15-of-28 shots from behind the 3-point arc.

NOT: The Piston starters shot 6-for-24 after the first quarter.

QUOTABLE II: "They played like a team with a purpose and they do; they still have a playoff spot. I thought we would come out and make it as difficult as possible and compete a little bit better, but we didn't do that."
-- Pistons guard Ben Gordon.

GOOD MOVE: The Magic suspended point guard Chris Duhon for missing the morning shootaround. His minutes went to Ish Smith, who sparked Orlando's second-quarter rally with four points and five assists.

BAD MOVE: Magic forward Clark got a double technical and automatic ejection with 7.5 seconds left in a 30-point blowout.

IN THE ARENA: Poster of the Night: "Dwight: Keep Stan, Fire Free Throw Instructor."

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: In his last five games, Davis averages 20.6 points and 12.2 rebounds.

ROOKIE WATCH: Pistons guard Brandon Knight had seven points and three assists in 28 minutes.

NOTABLE: Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey left the game at halftime with a sore left knee . . . Howard will travel with the Magic to Washington Tuesday, but might not play . . . Turkoglu is likely to miss the rest of the regular season after having surgery on a facial fracture.

UP NEXT: For the Pistons, Thursday @ Charlotte, Friday vs. Milwaukee, Sunday vs. Chicago. For the Magic, Tuesday @ Washington, Friday vs. Atlanta, Sunday @ Cleveland.

• Pistons: Macklin
• Magic: Howard, Turkoglu

• Pistons: Wallace
• Magic: Clark, Clark

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
• Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #73 Tre Maddox, #38 Michael Smith
• Attendance: 18998
• Duration: 2:09