Magic-Pistons Game Review
Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard missed his second straight game and Greg Monroe took full advantage, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lift the Pistons to a 102-95 victory over the Magic at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Tuesday.
Ben Gordon scored 18 points, handed out seven assists and grabbed seven boards, while Jason Maxiell and Tayshaun Prince tallied 15 points apiece to give the Pistons their fourth win in their last five games.
The Magic were also without starters Jameer Nelson (calf) and Ryan Anderson (ankle) but got a huge performance from Glen Davis with 31 points and 10 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu netted 16 points, but the Magic fell for the fourth straight game.
"Everybody hurt us. We don't guard," admitted Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. "They played well, I give them credit but we're easy to score on. We do not guard."
With the loss, Orlando dropped to fifth in the East, a half-game behind the Pacers, who now reside in third after taking a 112-104 victory over the Knicks on Tuesday.
With the game tied at 74 to open the final frame, Detroit scored the first seven points, and outscored the Magic 17-4 over the first six-plus minutes of the quarter to take a 91-78 lead with 5:58 left in the game.
Jonas Jerebko buried a three-pointer to spark the run, and his jumper capped the flurry.
"Our second unit was great there at the start of the fourth quarter," said Prince. "We picked up the defensive energy and that's what was able to get us through the game."
Orlando got as close as five, 100-95, after Davis sank a triple with 22.7 seconds left, but Damien Wilkins hit two from the charity stripe to halt the comeback bid.
With no Howard to deal with inside, Jason Maxiell tallied eight points in the first quarter, including a thunderous dunk over Davis, to lead the Pistons to a 27-25 edge after one.
The Magic led by as many as four early in the second, but a 7-2 surge from the Pistons found the home team with a 43-40 edge with 3:03 left until halftime.
Detroit tallied the final five of the frame to take a 50-47 lead into the locker room.
The Pistons scored the first eight points of the second half, but Orlando countered with the next nine, pulling within 58-56 with 6:24 left in the third.
Daniel Orton's free throws capped the scoring in the third and sent the two teams into the fourth quarter locked at 74 apiece.
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