PISTONS REACH EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

 

(Image taken from NBA.com)

Well first there was Games 1 and 2, where the teams with home court advantage this series made full use of it. Then came Game 3, where the supposed underdogs bit back. After the dust settled post Game 4 though, there was only one team that were in a position to win their 2008 conference semi final series. That was the Detroit Pistons, they faced the Magic in Game 5 in Detroit still not on full strength but for the visitors it was do or die.

Well it was the Magic who started out firing and led 6-2 after a couple of minutes but the Pistons replied and turned the game round with a 10-0 run. The Magic replied well enough to level the match but weren't able to retake the lead before the Pistons came back to lead 20-13 only for the last two minutes to be all Magic. Antonio McDyess led the Pistons with 6 points, Maurice Evans led the Magic with 5. Game tied at 20 at the buzzer.

Well for the first minute of the second quarter, the only points scored were free throws even then though, it was the Pistons who kept getting the edge but the Magic never went away and then an 8-0 run have them a 33-27 lead mid quarter. However the Pistons then shut down the Magic, turned the game round and led by Richard Hamilton's 19 points lead 47-41 at the half.

Well Magic coach Stan van Gundy was certainly fired up during the half time team talk but it stick stop the Pistons having the better early part of the third quarter and leading 53-45. Then the Magic really did make a stand, coming back to tie the game and while the Pistons did hold another big lead the Magic then just took over and dominated the latter stages of the quarter, turning the game around and though the Pistons briefly led with under a minute to go, it was 68-65 at the buzzer, Dwight Howard leading the visitors on 14 points.

The Magic opened the fourth with two freethrows which gave them a 70-65 lead but then the Pistons cut the deficit to 1 before just...well this is the Pistons we're talking about! No points whatsoever for nearly two and a half minutes! The home side eventually completely the turnaround before another two minute drought followed by a decent surge. The Magic made a late run to bring the deficit down to 1 but the Pistons saved themselves with Hamilton collecting 31 points, McDyess 17 and guard Rodney Stuckey who's starting to get people's attention grabbing 15. Pistons won the game 91-86 and the series 4-1.

Elsewhere, the Celtics beat the Cavs 96-89 in Boston to lead that series 3-2, Paul Pierce leading the way with 29 points to make his team the Pistons most likely opponents in the Eastern Conference finals. Out West, the Lakers beat the Jazz 11-104 in LA to lead that series 3-2 while the Hornets managed to batter the Spurs 101-79 in New Orleans to lead their series 3-2 and that's the defending champions over a barrel!

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