Pistons beat Magic in NBA playoff opener as Howard hurt

Chauncey Billups scored 19 points and Richard Hamilton added 17 to lead the Detroit Pistons past Orlando 91-72 Saturday, but the biggest loss for the Magic was injured center Dwight Howard.

The Pistons, seeded second in the Eastern Conference, won their eighth consecutive playoff game against Orlando in the first game of the best-of-seven second round series. Detroit swept the Magic in round one last season.

Detroit opened the fourth quarter with a 15-4 run to seize command for good after the Magic lost Howard with 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Howard, who contributed only 12 points and eight rebounds, injured his left hand while trying to grab a rebound. Losing the All-Star center for any length of time against the perennial power Pistons could doom the Magic's title hopes.

"We relied on our veterans to pick us up there in the second half," Pistons standout Jason Maxwell said.

The Pistons hope to seize a 2-0 edge in the series by capturing game two on Monday before the series shifts to Florida for games three and four.

"We're going to still come out with the same focus in the second game," Maxwell said. "Howard hurt his hand but we're still going to have to concentrate on shutting down him and Turkoglu."