Detroit Pistons Win the East, Home Court Advantage
Jack McGoughey
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The Detroit Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic 104-99 Wednesday night to win the East and home court a 
dvantage.
The victory was helped by the Piston's defense holding Grant Hill to only four points in the second half.
"We made a couple adjustments against him, but mainly we just paid a lot more attention," said Chauncey Billups. "He was tough. It was like the old days."
Hill finished with 22 points, the most he has scored against the Pistons since leaving the team in 2000. Unfortunately for Hill and the Magic, it wasn't enough to keep Detroit from clinching home court advantage in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons have now won five Central Division titles in the last six years.
"That's nothing," Tayshaun Prince said in a low-key locker room after the game. "After what Joe Dumars has brought here, and what we've accomplished on the floor, we're not going to get excited about this. We're not going to celebrate a thing unless we win it all."
Detroit held as much as an 18 point lead in the first half, but lost much of the lead when Orlando rallied to tie the game in the final two minutes.
Prince then put Detroit back ahead with a basket and Billups finished the game off from the free throw line.
The game, a possible preview of a first round playoff series, had Billups leading the Pistons with 28 points. Richard Hamilton added 21 points.
"We let them get back into the game, and that's been a problem all season," Billups said. "Most of the time, we come out on top, but it is a scary situation."
The Magic, in eighth place in the East, had their lead over Indiana for the final playoff spot cut to one game. The Magic play Philadelphia on Saturday.
"If we play them, we can take something out of this game, but we can't put ourselves in another hole where we are down 18 points," Orlando coach Brian Hill said. "Right now, Philadelphia is a big game for us. They can still get in the playoffs, so we need to beat them."
Hill, who had 22 points, had 17 points at the Palace at the beginning of 2005. He averaged 25.8 points in his final season with the Pistons.
Detroit swept their four game series with Orlando.
The victory was helped by the Piston's defense holding Grant Hill to only four points in the second half.
"We made a couple adjustments against him, but mainly we just paid a lot more attention," said Chauncey Billups. "He was tough. It was like the old days."
Hill finished with 22 points, the most he has scored against the Pistons since leaving the team in 2000. Unfortunately for Hill and the Magic, it wasn't enough to keep Detroit from clinching home court advantage in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons have now won five Central Division titles in the last six years.
"That's nothing," Tayshaun Prince said in a low-key locker room after the game. "After what Joe Dumars has brought here, and what we've accomplished on the floor, we're not going to get excited about this. We're not going to celebrate a thing unless we win it all."
Detroit held as much as an 18 point lead in the first half, but lost much of the lead when Orlando rallied to tie the game in the final two minutes.
Prince then put Detroit back ahead with a basket and Billups finished the game off from the free throw line.
The game, a possible preview of a first round playoff series, had Billups leading the Pistons with 28 points. Richard Hamilton added 21 points.
"We let them get back into the game, and that's been a problem all season," Billups said. "Most of the time, we come out on top, but it is a scary situation."
The Magic, in eighth place in the East, had their lead over Indiana for the final playoff spot cut to one game. The Magic play Philadelphia on Saturday.
"If we play them, we can take something out of this game, but we can't put ourselves in another hole where we are down 18 points," Orlando coach Brian Hill said. "Right now, Philadelphia is a big game for us. They can still get in the playoffs, so we need to beat them."
Hill, who had 22 points, had 17 points at the Palace at the beginning of 2005. He averaged 25.8 points in his final season with the Pistons.
Detroit swept their four game series with Orlando.