Magic 110, Pistons 103
Hot start by Magic too much for Pistons
Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News
Orlando -- The spell the Pistons had over the Orlando Magic is over. The Magic rode a red-hot first quarter to defeat the Pistons 110-103 Friday at Amway Arena.
Orlando (5-1) shot a blistering 73.7 percent in the first quarter while taking 40-23 lead.
The Pistons (2-4) gradually got back in the game, and came to within six, 96-90, on a Charlie Villanueva bucket with 3:30 left.
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Villanueva had 28 points, 22 in the fourth quarter, including 22 of the Pistons' final 27 points. Rodney Stuckey scored 20, Ben Gordon 19 and Austin Daye 11.
Dwight Howard led Orlando with 22 points, and Jameer Nelson and Matt Barnes each had 18.
The Pistons, who host Philadelphia on Sunday at 1 p.m., beat the Eastern Conference champion Magic 85-80 at The Palace on Tuesday.
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