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| The Orlando Magic earned their first win over Detroit in the NBA playoffs this evening, and as we have come to expect, center Dwight Howard played a major role in the effort. Howard shot 8-of-13 from the field and 4-of-7 from the free-throw line to score 20 points, adding 12 rebounds and a whopping six blocked shots to put the Magic in the win column for the first time in this series. |
Our View: Now the Magic aim to tie the series, currently led by Detroit at 2-1.
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| The Orlando Magic managed to pull their first win of the playoff series against the Detroit Pistons this evening, but unlike other Orlando efforts, it was not center Dwight Howard doing the heavy lifting. Forward Rashard Lewis was the top scoring dog for the Magic this evening, shooting an impressive 11-of-15 from the floor, 5-of-6 from the three-point line, and 6-of-8 from the charity stripe to score 33 points. |
Our View: The rest of Lewis' numbers lagged, but the scoring machine led the Magic to a dominating victory to bring the series to 2-1 in favor of Detroit.
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| The Detroit Pistons struggled without team-leading PG Chauncey Billups (lost early in the game to a hamstring injury), suffering the 111-86 loss to the Orlando Magic as the others tried to pick up their efforts. Shooting guard Richard Hamilton led the way, shooting 10-of-20 from the floor to score a team-high 24 points on the night. |
Our View: Rip also added six rebounds, three assists, and two steals to the stat line, but his efforts failed to push the Pistons into a competitive mode, bringing the playoff series to 2-1 in favor of Detroit.
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| The Lakers are reporting injured center Andrew Bynum is considering arthroscopic surgery to alleviate the problems in his left knee, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: Bynum's condition has improved since he first suffered the injury, but his progress has been much slower than anticipated. The team suggests Bynum and team officials will track his progress over the next three to four weeks. If the return to health continues to come slowly or stall, the Lakers are likely to recommend the young center go under the knife.
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| Pistons guard Chauncey Billups has left tonight's playoff game against the Orlando Magic with what appears to be a strained right hamstring, according to the Sports Network. |
Our View: Billups was hurt with 8:11 left in the opening quarter of play, driving from the right side towards the hoop. The team reports his return to action is questionable.
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| Andre Iguodala will be back as a member of the Sixers if team president Ed Stefanski has anything to say about it, according to the AP. I think Andre Iguodala is a good fit for our team, Stefanski said. Is he the (No.) 1 man on our team? He has to prove that, but Ill take a lot of Andre Iguodalas on our team. |
Our View: The Sixers need to add a power-forward, and a shooter who can step out beyond the arc, but the mulit-talented Iguodala certainly isn't a bad player to build around.
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| Marvin Williams was suspended for one game without pay because of the flagrant foul he committed on Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, according to the AP. |
Our View: Williams will sit out game one next year of the regular season. After averaging 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds this season, Williams' value won't suffer at all from missing just one game.
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| According to the Deseret News, Luke Walton, who didn't practice Monday due to an upper respiratory infection that limited his minutes to 13 in Game 1, did practice Tuesday, but said he "hit a wall" and that he won't know how many minutes he'll be able to play tonight versus the Jazz. |
Our View: Head coach Phil Jackson said Walton was significantly improved and insinuated that he expected the forward to play in Game 2.
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| Carlos Boozer hasn't been himself during the playoffs. The power forward hasn't scored 20 points in six straight playoff games and has just two total blocked shots over that span. |
Our View: If the Jazz plan to make a series of Round 2, Boozer's scoring and defense must improve.
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| Deron Williams averaged 10.5 assists per game during the regular season, but the Utah playmaker has not broken the double-digit mark in assists over his past four playoff contests. During that span his scoring is also down, including just one game of 20 points or more. |
Our View: Williams is averaging 42.7 minutes per game, and it's likely wearing on the Jazz's floor general.
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| Detroit power forward Jason Maxiell has started the past five games for the Pistons in place of Antonio McDyess, even though McDyess (nose) is reportedly healthy. |
Our View: Maxiell brings youth, energy and fresh legs to a game that is likely to be more up and down as the series moves forward.
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| Tayshaun Prince continues to step up for the Pistons during their current playoff run. The Detroit forward has scored in double-figures in every postseason game and is hitting 60.2 percent from the floor over eight playoff games. |
Our View: Prince is arguably the Pistons best defender, and is typically assigned the opposing team's best scorer.
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| The Magic are still firing away from the perimeter. In fact, the way Orlando will get back in the Round 2 series is all about their outside game. Despite the presence of the NBA's best interior player in Dwight Howard, the Magic continue to be committed to a perimeter approach that is hurting them. Orlando has launched 41 three-point attempts over the first two games, hitting just 13 of them (31.7 percent). |
Our View: Orlando lives and dies with the three-pointer, and lately they've been dying by ReShard Lewis' inaccuracy. In this series he is a dismal 2-for-12 from behind the 3-point arc. Moreover, Lewis has taken a ridiculous 52 shots from three-land (out of his 122 total shots from the field) and has hit only 12 of them, a dismal 23.1 percent.
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