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Pistons try to eliminate Orlando

Tue 13th, May 2008

(Sports Network) - The Detroit Pistons attempt to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth straight year, as they host the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their semifinal series.

Detroit leads this best-of-seven series 3-1. If necessary, Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday in Orlando.

On Saturday, Tayshaun Prince's left-handed hook shot in the lane with 6.9 seconds remaining in the contest proved to be the game-winner, as No. 2 Detroit escaped Amway Arena with a 90-89 win over the third-seeded Magic.

After Prince's go-ahead bucket, the Magic put the ball in the red-hot Hedo Turkoglu's hands. Turkoglu, who netted 13 points in the fourth quarter, started at the top of the key and took Prince off the dribble and into the lane. Jason Maxiell stepped up and fronted the forward before the two collided and the shot attempt fell off the mark without a whistle.

Prince finished with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Pistons. Richard Hamilton exploded for a game-high 32 points -- 10 in the final period -- and Rasheed Wallace tallied 16 points and eight rebounds for Detroit, which is one win away from becoming the first team since the 1984-89 Los Angeles Lakers to reach six straight conference finals.

Turkoglu recorded 20 points, while Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson and Maurice Evans all netted 15 for Orlando, which hit just 11-of-17 from the free throw line. Dwight Howard grabbed 12 rebounds but was almost absent offensively. The recently named All-NBA First Team center did not sink a field goal after the 7:03 mark of the first quarter, finishing with just eight points on 3-of-12 from the field.

All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups (strained right hamstring) did not play in Game 4 for Detroit. He is averaging 15.8 points and 5.7 assists per game in the playoffs. Billups is questionable for tonight's contest.

Orlando has lost four straight playoff games when facing elimination.

The Magic are 4-2 all-time in Game 5s in the postseason. Orlando is 1-3 on the road in this year's playoffs.

Detroit has won two in a row when it has the chance to eliminate its opponent from the playoffs.

The Pistons, who are 4-1 at home in this year's postseason, have split their last four Game 5s in the playoffs.

This is the fourth time these teams have met in the postseason. Orlando swept the Pistons, 3-0, in the first round of the 1996 playoffs. Detroit ousted the Magic in seven games in the 2003 quarterfinals and swept Orlando, 4-0, in round one last year.

Detroit, which defeated Philadelphia is six games, 4-2, in round one, has advanced to the East semifinals for the sixth straight year. The Pistons have won this round four straight times. Their only loss during the stretch was in 2002 to the Boston Celtics, 4-1.

The Pistons have made the Eastern Conference finals five straight years. They lost in six games, 4-2, last year to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East finals.

Orlando knocked off the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors in five games, 4-1, in the opening round of the postseason. The Magic, who had dropped six straight playoff series heading into this year's postseason, won a first-round series for the first time since 1996 when they swept Detroit. They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals that year and were swept by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, 4-0.