Palace doesn't haunt Magic this time as Orlando tops lowly Detroit

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons and the voodoo that envelops the Orlando Magic any time they enter The Palace of Auburn Hills tried their best to derail the Magic Sunday evening.

Instead, in a rare feat, the Magic beat the Pistons in Detroit.

Orlando (32-16) beat Detroit (15-31), 91-86, after leading by 15 in the first quarter, then trailing in the third. The Magic picked up the franchise's 11th regular season win in Detroit out of 40 tries. The win sent Van Gundy and his coaching staff to the All-Star Game where they will coach the Eastern Conference all-stars.

"This place is just a house of horrors for us," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "…Crazy stuff always happens in this building for us I'm just glad we're done here for the year, and quite frankly I hope they don't make the playoffs and get into a position where we have to play them. … I think if they put five 10-year-olds out there in Pistons jerseys we'd struggle."

Orlando didn't emerge unscathed. Starting point guard Jameer Nelson hyperextended his left knee during the first quarter, reaggravating the joint on which he had surgery in November. Magic general manager Otis Smith and Nelson both said the injury wasn't serious. Shooting guard Mickael Pietrus turned his ankle and said he will probably miss a week. The team will know more for sure in the next few days.

After big wins at home against two of the Eastern Conference's best teams, the Magic travelled up north to face one of the conference's worst. Still, they knew going into the game beating Detroit on the road wouldn't be easy.

In addition to the franchise's historical ineptitude at The Palace, the Pistons were coming off an embarrassing loss to the Miami Heat and were eager to atone.

The Magic started strong, shooting 61 percent in the first quarter. They made four of five three-pointers. They took a 15-point lead after Vince Carter took a lob from Matt Barnes and slammed it through the hoop, prompting one Pistons fan to say, "Now they're just showing off."

That didn't last long.

By the end of the quarter, the Pistons cut the lead to eight.

With zero points from its starters in the second quarter, the Magic slipped further. They were outhustled as the Pistons picked up more rebounds and more points in the paint.

"I thought our guys really competed tonight," Pistons coach John Kuester said. "I thought they did a nice job other than the first quarter when we gave up 29 points and the fourth quarter when we gave up 27."

Detroit trailed by three at halftime and led, 65-64, after three quarters.

"They had a small lead and we felt the whole way that we were gonna win this game," Howard said. "We just came out and did it. Teams are going to make runs. Teams are going to score. Teams are going to take leads. You can never give up on a game, doesn't matter if you're up 20 or down 20."

With Nelson out most of the game and shooting guard J.J. Redick playing well, Van Gundy relied on a lineup that included Redick and veteran reserve point guard Anthony Johnson for most of the second half.

After scoring in the teens in the second and third quarters, Orlando's offense revived in the fourth. The Magic shot 63 percent and scored 27 points.

Redick led the team with 17 points and Johnson scored six and had three assists. His final contribution might have been his biggest.

With the Magic leading by three points with nine seconds left in the game, Detroit tried to set up a three. Guard Ben Gordon aimed a pass at his teammate Tayshaun Prince, but Johnson got in the way.

"I'm just happy to help when my number is called," Johnson said. "We got a much needed road victory."