FOULEDOUT!

Chauncey Billups scored 28 points, including a disputed 3 pointer in the third period, and led the Detroit Pistons for a 100-93 win over the Orlando Magic. The Pistons now lead the seven game series 2-0.

Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince had 17 points apiece, and Prince added 10 rebounds. Rip Hamilton added 14 points and Jason Maxiell chipped in 11 as five Pistons starters finished with double figures.

Dwight Howard bounced back after a lackluster game 1 and finished with 22 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks. The Magic got back to their usual game of driving hard and kicking out for perimeter shots. Jameer Nelson made 5 treys and finished with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Rashard Lewis added 20 points while Maurice Evans and Hedo Turkoglu had 13 and 12 points respectively.

The Magic had a chance against the Pistons in their second meeting but their 19 turnovers and 4 point contribution from the bench hurt their cause.

The series heads to Orlando on May 7.

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Hedo Turkoglu’s great improvements across the stat lines have paid off after winning the Most Improved Player Award this season. Turkoglu averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists this season and was one of the key players responsible for the recent success of the Orlando Magic.

Turkoglu’s stat lines this season marked career highs in each category. Last season, he averaged 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

The eight-year veteran is a major factor in Magic’s recent success. This season, he developed a clutch game that led to a couple of game winning baskets during the regular season. The 6-10 forward missed the All-Star game in February and many fans believed that he was snubbed out of the Eastern team.

Turkoglu was named back-to-back Eastern Conference player of the week in late January and early February and earned the player of the month award in April.

“I guess this year was the time for me to step it up and come this far, so I am just blessed that I was healthy this year and all the things went well for me, having a good coach, my teammates, everybody. If you look at it, it is not just my improvement, it is the Magic’s improvement too, comparing to last year.” Hedo Turkoglu said after receiving the award.

Hedo Turkoglu got 380 points in the voting and edged Rudy Gay and LaMarcus Aldridge who earned 167 and 128 points respectively.

Other notes:

The Orlando Magic are headed to the second round of the playoffs after they defeated the Toronto Raptors 102-92. Dwight Howard had a monster game and posted his third 20-20 game of the series. Hedo Turkoglu missed a triple-double after posting 12 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists.

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  Deron Williams Scored 20 points on an 8-11 shooting and dished out 6 assists when the Utah Jazz handed the New Jersey Nets their sixth straight loss.

The Jazz, who came from back to back losses against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers played big tonight as they crushed the skidding Nets.  Williams led his team with 20 points.  Carlos Boozer tallied 17 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes of action.  Ronnie Brewer and Mehmet Okur each had 14 points for the Jazz.

The Nets who are still playing without Vince Carter for the past five games are having trouble filling up the scoring void Carter left.  Richard Jefferson finished with game high 22 points.  All around point guard Jason Kidd only had 2 points as he struggled on the floor on 1-9 shooting.  He finished with 8 assists but committed 6 turnovers.  Bostjan Nachbar added 16 points while rookie big man Sean Williams continued to play well when he finished the game with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. 

The New Jersey Nets are third in the Atlantic with a 4-7 record while the Utah Jazz are second in the Southwest with an 8-4 record.

Other Results

Portland Trailblazers 92

Charlotte Bobcats 101 *

Seattle Supersonics 108

Memphis Grizzlies 125 *

Orlando Magic 95 *

New Orleans Hornets 88

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