Magic 78 - 89 Pistons
Final
  for this game

Pistons shut down Magic

Jan 3, 2012 - 6:24 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Ben Gordon scored 26 points and dished out six assists, lifting the Detroit Pistons to an 89-78 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday.

Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince each netted 14 points and Jonas Jerebko finished with eight points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who have won their last two since opening the year with three straight losses.

Dwight Howard had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Magic, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

"I don't know if we did anything good," Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We weren't committed from the beginning of the game to getting any shots. We didn't rebound at all. I don't even know how we were in shouting distance in the game."

Foul trouble plagued Detroit's frontcourt in the opening half as they tried to keep up with Howard. Greg Monroe picked up his second personal foul just 4:55 into the game. His replacement, Jason Maxiell, recorded two fouls just 1:23 later and racked up four fouls total by halftime.

Howard had 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first half.

Gordon, though, poured in 17 first-half points to keep the Pistons in it as Orlando held the halftime lead, 46-44.

However, it was the Pistons' defense that led the way in the second half, holding the Magic to just 33.3 shooting from the field.

Detroit got its offense going in the third quarter, shooting 69.2 percent en route to a 68-63 cushion heading into the fourth quarter. The highlight came when Gordon beat the shot clock with a three-pointer to give Detroit a 66-60 advantage.

Monroe's putback gave the Pistons an 85-75 lead with 2:20 left, while Orlando was unable to get their three-point shots to fall down the stretch.

Monroe's breakaway jam with 29 seconds remaining sealed the win for the Pistons.

"I think as a group we did a great job tonight," Monroe said. "Anytime everybody can give an effort like that we'll get a win."

Game Notes

Howard had three straight double-doubles coming in...The Pistons have won 11 of the last 14 games against the Magic at home...Detroit outrebounded Orlando, 39-28.






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