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Magic seeks first win in series vs. Pistons

Apr 26, 2007 - 1:30 PM Detroit at Orlando 8:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference first round Pistons lead series, 2-0

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) - The Orlando Magic hope a return home can help them against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in a first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

The Pistons won each of the first two games by eight points at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

"We just have to play together and fight," Magic swingman Hedo Turkoglu said. "We are playing a good team and we just have to execute better and close the deal."

The Pistons' starting lineup of Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber and Tayshaun Prince combined for 88 of the team's points in a 98-90 win in Game Two.

"I might be wrong, but I think they've got five All-Stars out there so it isn't just that they are balanced," Orlando coach Brian Hill said. "They are balanced and they are good. You have to play solid team defense against them, because they are used to playing together and they are very unselfish. It's tough."

Orlando hopes All-Star center Dwight Howard has gotten over the ailment that played a part in limiting him to only eight points in 35 minutes.

"Dwight was sick, and he just didn't have anything," Hill said. "He was nauseous and had intense stomach pains before the game."

Howard's defense will be counted on heavily to try and slow down Wallace, who averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds through the first two games.

If the Pistons win on Thursday, then they will have a chance at their first playoff series sweep since 1990.