Disputed call leads to Pistons’ win over Magic
The Detroit Pistons took advantage of what seemed to be a little help from the scorer’s table and went on to beat the Orlando Magic.
Chauncey Billups scored 28 points, three on a disputed shot at the end of the third quarter, and Detroit got past Orlando for a 100-93 win Monday night and a 2-0 lead in the second-round series.
Billups officially made a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left in the third, ending a play that started with 5.1 seconds and seemed to take a fraction of a second longer using replays the officials didn’t use during a 5-minute delay.
The shot put Detroit ahead 78-76.
Lead official Steve Javie declined to be interviewed by a pool reporter during a timeout, and ignored another reporter shouting to speak with him after the game ended.
The Magic still had a chance to win after trailing by 14 in the first half.
Orlando had the ball down two points late in the game, but Rashard Lewis missed a running scoop shot, Dwight Howard just missed on a putback and Hedo Turkoglu couldn’t grab the offensive rebound.
Magic reserve Keyon Dooling fouled Richard Hamilton before the ensuing pass was made from the sideline, giving Detroit a free throw – made by Hamilton – and the ball.
Billups then made two free throws to put Detroit ahead by five points with 10.9 seconds left to seal the win.
Game 3 in the best-of-7 series is Wednesday night in Orlando.
Hornets 102, Spurs 84: At New Orleans, shutting down David West only gave the San Antonio Spurs front-row seats for the Chris Paul show.
With razzle-dazzle dribbles and a driving floater that couldn’t miss, Paul had 30 points and 12 assists, leading the Hornets to a victory and a 2-0 lead over the Spurs in their second-round series.
Peja Stojakovic hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 points for the Hornets, who’ve won both games by wide margins in becoming the first team to put San Antonio in a 0-2 playoff hole since 2001, when the Spurs were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.
Tyson Chandler had 11 rebounds and all of his five points during a key stretch midway through the fourth quarter when the Hornets prevented San Antonio from getting within single digits.
Tim Duncan led San Antonio with 18 points and eight rebounds. But by the final minutes, Duncan was on the bench, resting his cheek on his hand with a dejected 100-yard stare.
Manu Ginobili had 13 points for the Spurs and Tony Parker 11.
Game 3 is Thursday in San Antonio.
Off the court
The NBA has scheduled a news conference for today at a Los Angeles hotel, where Kobe Bryant is expected to be announced as winner of his first Most Valuable Player award. … The Phoenix Suns granted permission for coach Mike D’Antoni to talk to other teams, with the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks apparently the leading suitors. General manager Steve Kerr confirmed that D’Antoni can speak with other NBA teams about coaching vacancies but indicated he still wants to persuade the coach to stay with the Suns.