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Hamilton carries Pistons past Magic

Mar 10, 2009 - 4:50 AM AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- Richard Hamilton collected 29 points and a career-high 14 assists as the Detroit Pistons swept the season series against the Orlando Magic with Monday's 98-94 victory.

"Have you ever seen the movie Groundhog Day?" Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "It's the same old story."

"It took a lot of work, but I just think certain teams cause matchup problems with other teams, and we're one of those teams with the Magic," Pistons forward Antonio McDyess said. "It's nothing we do special. We just go out and play our game."

Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points and McDyess added 13 and a season-high 18 rebounds for the Pistons, who have won five of their last six.

That stretch started with a 93-85 win in Orlando on February 27 behind 31 points and six assists from Hamilton. The triumph snapped Detroit's eight-game losing streak.

With his spot in the starting lineup secure again, Hamilton was the star in this one for Detroit, which lost Rasheed Wallace in the first quarter. The forward strained his left calf and didn't return to the contest.

"It was a big game for us because with Allen (Iverson) not playing, Sheed going down and Stuck getting hurt, it was going to be a tough game for us," Hamilton said. "We just dug deep and got the win."

Rodney Stuckey nailed a short fadeaway in the lane to give the Pistons the lead for good, 91-90, with 1:56 left.

Then, Rip took over.

He scored the last seven points of the game for Detroit, which improved to 5-1 since Hamilton entered the starting lineup for four-time scoring champion Allen Iverson.

"We heard that they might play Rip a little different, so we told him, 'They might play you like Boston, so you've got to depend on your teammates to make shots and if they do, it'll open up more opportunities for you,'" Curry said.

Dwight Howard had 27 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

"This was a big game because they've been beating us for four years, and it's difficult because we know we haven't beaten them on their court," Howard said.

"We wanted to come in and get a big win. I think we came out with a lot of energy but, in the second half, we didn't play with the same intensity we had in the first half."