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Pistons build early lead to take down Magic

Jan 25, 2011 - 4:38 AM Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - The trio of Tayshaun Prince, Tracy McGrady and Austin Daye each scored 20 points as the Detroit Pistons took an early lead and held on late, topping the Orlando Magic, 103-96, at Amway Center.

Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon both contributed 16 points to round out the Pistons scoring, and Ben Wallace grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds in a reserve role. The Pistons have now won two straight and five of their last seven.

"It was a total team effort," Pistons coach John Kuester said. "The starters did a great job, and the guys that came off of the bench did a phenomenal job."

Ryan Anderson led the Magic with 21 points in a reserve role, while Dwight Howard added 20 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds for the Magic, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Jameer Nelson and Brandon Bass supplied 14 and 12 points, respectively, for Orlando, which had won five straight in this series entering Monday.

Detroit took a 56-46 lead into the half, and opened up the third quarter with a Greg Monroe layup and Stuckey jumper to widen its margin to a game-high 14.

Less than two minutes later Howard's dunk off two missed attempts trimmed the Pistons margin down to eight, 62-54. However, after Howard failed to convert on the three-point play opportunity, Stuckey drilled a long three-pointer on the far end to push the Pistons lead back to double-digits. The Pistons took a 75-65 lead into the final stanza.

The Magic opened the fourth quarter with a 10-4 run, bookended by Quentin Richardson baskets, to cut their deficit down to 79-75, but after a Pistons timeout Daye responded with a triple to give the Pistons some breathing room.

Daye added another shot from beyond the arc with 6:19 remaining to expand the Pistons lead to 90-78, but the Magic cut the Detroit lead down to 98-93 before the Pistons sealed the victory at the free throw line.

"I think our focus is a big problem," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We aren't focusing on the game plan or on personnel. I think our guys know the stuff if you talk to them about other players, but I don't think we focus on it on the floor at all."

McGrady led the way with 14 points as the Pistons took a 27-26 lead after the opening 12 minutes. Daye stepped up with 11 in the second quarter, and Detroit took a 56-46 lead into the break.

Game Notes

Monroe finished with seven points...The Magic held a 46-39 rebounding margin...Daye was 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.