NBA: Pistons eliminate Magic
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Detroit Pistons made just enough shots and stops to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for a sixth straight year.
Coatesville's Richard Hamilton scored 19 of his 31 points in the first half, and Tayshaun Prince had a key block, helping Detroit hold off the Orlando Magic for a 91-86 win last night in Game 5 of the second-round series.
Jameer Nelson had 14 points for the Magic. The former St. Joe's star had guaranteed his team would extend the series with a win.
"We played them tough," Nelson said afterward. "If there's anyone in their locker room who didn't think this was tough, they don't know what tough is."
Detroit made just 36 percent of its shots and allowed the Magic to make nearly half of their attempts, but made up for the disparity at the line and by taking care of the ball.
The Pistons were 28 of 32 at the line and had just three turnovers - setting an NBA playoff record for the fewest giveaways in a game - while Orlando was 16 of 28 and had a playoff-high 21 turnovers, which turned into 34 points for Detroit.
With point guard Chauncey Billups out for the second straight game because of a strained hamstring, rookie Rodney Stuckey filled the void for Detroit with 15 points, six assists and no turnovers.
Hornets 101, Spurs 79
NEW ORLEANS - David West had career playoff highs of 38 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocked shots, lifting New Orleans over San Antonio for a three-games-to-two series lead.
Chris Paul had 16 of his 22 points in the second half and added 14 assists for New Orleans, which has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs.
Manu Ginobili led San Antonio with 20 points and Tony Parker had 18. The Hornets held Tim Duncan to 10 points, though Duncan was a force on the defensive end with 23 rebounds.
There was one negative note: Hornets center Tyson Chandler had to be helped to the bench after dropping to the floor with a bruised left foot in the fourth quarter.
Top rookies. Al Horford and Kevin Durant headlined the NBA All-Rookie team.
Atlanta's Horford was the only unanimous choice with 58 votes (29 first-team votes), followed by Seattle's Durant with 57 in balloting by the league's 30 head coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Durant, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft, had previously been voted the rookie of the year.
Houston's Luis Scola, Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton, and Seattle's Jeff Green also were selected to the first team.
The 76ers' Thaddeus Young was a second-team selection, garnering four first-team votes and 15 second-team votes. He is the first 76ers rookie to be honored since Andre Iguodala earned first-team honors in 2004-05.


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