Rashard Lewis scored a career playoff-high 33 points yesterday and Orlando beat Detroit 111-86 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Magic's first win in the series.
The Pistons lost point guard Chauncey Billups just four minutes into the game when he drove to the basket and got tangled up with Orlando's Jameer Nelson.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (L) drives to the basket as he is fouled by Utah Jazz Andrei Kinlenko (R) during Game 2 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball series in Los Angeles, California yesterday.
Nelson's leg caught Billups' foot, and Billups fell hard to the court with a strained right hamstring. Billups was averaging 17.5 points in the postseason and had 28 against the Magic in Game 2.
Game 4 is Saturday in Orlando.
Richard Hamilton scored 24 points for Detroit. With Billups out, rookie Rodney Stuckey stepped up big for the Pistons, scoring 19 points nine in the second quarter.
Dwight Howard had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, which saw Detroit move to within 73-69 at the end of the third quarter but pulled away again.
The Magic had lost nine straight playoff games to the Pistons, tied for the fourth-longest streak in NBA history, including a first-round sweep last season.
Lakers 120, Jazz 110
At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant celebrated his first MVP award by getting 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and remained the NBA's only unbeaten team in the postseason.
The series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4 on tomorrow night and Sunday. The Jazz had an NBA-best 37-4 home record this season, but one of the losses was by 11 points to the Lakers on March 20.
Bryant received his Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before the game.
Derek Fisher, who played for Utah last season, added 22 points for the Lakers, who shot 57.4 percent from the field and made 35 free throws 22 more than the Jazz.
Deron Williams had 25 points to lead seven Utah players in double figures.
The Jazz outrebounded the Lakers again 41-37, but shot 44.6 percent while attempting a season-high 101 shots 33 more than Los Angeles.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily May 8, 2008)