Pistons beat Magic, hurt Howard in NBA playoff opener

Detroit overpowered Orlando 91-72 Saturday to open their National Basketball Association second-round playoff series, leaving Magic star Dwight Howard injured and frustrated in the process.

Chauncey Billups scored 19 points and Richard Hamilton added 17 to lead the Pistons, who won their eighth playoff game in a row over Orlando to start the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series, outmuscling the Magic near the rim.

"You can't rough up the game with us," Hamilton said. "We've been doing this for years, and that's the way we want to play. They tried, but we enjoy it. We like it."

The Pistons, who swept the Magic in round one last year, had the second-best regular-season record in the NBA but struggled to defeat Philadelphia in six games in the first round after losing that opener.

"That was a punch in the face right there. That was a wake-up call, what the Sixers did to us last round," Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace said.

"We just couldn't let it happen tonight. We know this is a good team and, if we get down in this series, not saying that we'll lose, but it'll be a harder fight than we had with the Sixers. We've been saying we can't get down."

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. The Pistons outscored the Magic 48-30 in the second half.

Howard, who contributed only 12 points and eight rebounds, injured his left thumb while trying to grab a rebound. After X-rays, Howard expressed confidence he would be back at full strength for game two here on Monday.

"It's just a bruised thumb. It will be all right. I will ice it up and be ready for game two," Howard said.

"I know they will be physical, holding and grabbing and trying to hit my thumb. I'm just going to have to play through all that and not get frustrated.

"I'm a leader. What I do goes all the way through the team. We let the frustration build up and stopped playing our game. We have to come back and play our game."

The physical matchup had its roots in last year's Pistons playoff sweep.

"They definitely haven't forgot about it," Billups said. "I wouldn't have."

Turkey's Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis each scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Magic.

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

Maxiell had 12 points and nine rebounds and played the tough defense that kept Howard at bay.

"Max was awesome," Billups said. "He knew he had a tough challenge. The big guy is averaging 20 (points) and 20 (rebounds) in the playoffs and that's a tough feat for anybody, but especially when you're a lot smaller."

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said the Pistons provided the most bumping and grinding challenge Howard had seen.

"They play him the most physically of any team," Van Gundy said. "It's hard for him to get great position. He always has bodies on him. They are always pushing him. He has contact on every play, which takes him a little off-balance. They did a very good job."

Turkoglu, named the NBA's Most Improved Player, said the Pistons simply outhustled the Magic, who are making their first appearance past the opening round since reaching the East finals in 1996.

"We just tried to play our game and it didn't work," Turkoglu said. "They had more intensity than us. We had some turnovers, couldn't make some shots and had some great opportunities, but they were able to open up the lead and it was tough after that.

"We just need to go out there and give it our best."