ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Chauncey Billups scored a season-high 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, leading the Detroit Pistons to an 87-83 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night in a matchup of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Richard Hamilton hit baseline jumpers on consecutive possessions in the last 11/2 minutes to give Detroit an 86-82 lead. The Magic made four costly fourth-quarter turnovers for six Detroit points to let the game slip away late.
It was the Pistons’ second road win in two nights following a 92-82 victory at Dallas on Thursday night. Orlando has lost two in a row.
The Magic maintained a slim fourth-quarter lead most of the way despite missing nine of their first 11 shots in the period.
Flip Murray put Detroit up 82-80, its first lead since 8:01 in the third quarter, on a 12-foot turnaround jumper with about 2:30 left.
Dwight Howard, celebrating his 21st birthday Friday, had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Orlando, while Grant Hill had 12 points and four assists and Trevor Ariza scored 10.
Hamilton finished with 14 points and a season-high 10 rebounds, Rasheed Wallace had 13 points and six assists and Murray had 13 points.
AP-ES-12-08-06 2149EST
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