Stuckey, Pistons end Magic's winning streak at 7

[December 30, 2008]  AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Rodney Stuckey led a balanced attack with 19 points and the Detroit Pistons won their fourth straight with an 88-82 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

The Magic had won seven straight and were playing a Detroit team that was missing Richard Hamilton (groin), but they trailed for nearly the entire game.

Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace each scored 16 points and Allen Iverson had 15 to lead five Pistons in double figures.

Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 23 points while Dwight Howard added 18 points and 18 rebounds.

Detroit held Howard to one point in the first half while building a 52-43 lead, but Howard got going with a three-point play in the opening minute of the third period. He scored 13 points in the quarter to help Orlando narrow the gap to 70-66 heading into the fourth.

Orlando caught a break early in the final period as Iverson -- an 84 percent shooter from the line -- missed a pair of free throws that could have put Detroit up by 8.

The Magic rallied and tied the game at 77 on Lewis' four-point play with 6:07 to play, and got more help when Wallace was called for a technical foul with 4:49 left.

But Lewis missed the free throw and Wallace immediately made it 82-77 with a 3-pointer.

Orlando lost reserve guard Mickael Pietrus to a sprained right wrist in the second quarter. Pietrus was dunking when he banged into Detroit's Jason Maxiell and landed awkwardly on his back and arm.

[Associated Press]

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