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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:02 p.m., Saturday, May 10, 2008

NBA: Hamilton scores 32 as Pistons beat Magic 90-89

By TRAVIS REED
Associated Press Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. — Richard Hamilton scored 32 points and Hedo Turkoglu missed a layup with time running out as the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 90-89 on Saturday to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Tayshaun Prince scored 17 for Detroit, including an 11-foot runner for the go-ahead basket with 8.9 seconds left. Rasheed Wallace had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Orlando squandered a 15-point lead in the third quarter. After Prince's basket, Turkoglu's layup from the left side of the lane was no good and didn't draw a foul, and Dwight Howard's putback was also off the mark.

The Pistons won despite playing without All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups, held out because of a strained hamstring suffered in Thursday's game.

Turkoglu scored 20 for Orlando and three players added 15 points — Rashard Lewis, Maurice Evans and Jameer Nelson.

The Pistons held Howard in check all game, forcing several turnovers on Magic passes inside and largely preventing the All-Star from getting the ball near the rim. They double-teamed and banged him around but didn't commit many fouls on the 59 percent free throw shooter. Howard shot only two free throws, making both. He finished with eight points and 12 rebounds.