PA SPORTSTICKER NBA PLAYOFF PREVIEW
         (DETROIT-ORLANDO)



*Pistons try to push Magic to brink*
------------------------------------


Detroit at Orlando                                   8:00 pm EDT
Eastern Conference semifinals		       Pistons lead, 2-0


ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) - The Detroit Pistons have had their
way with the Orlando Magic this postseason.


The second-seeded Pistons try to take a commanding
three-games-to-none lead over the Magic in the Eastern
Conference semifinals when the best-of-seven series moves to
Orlando for Game Three on Wednesday.


Chauncey Billups scored 28 points to lead all five starters in
double figures as the Pistons held on for a 100-93 victory over
the Magic in Game Two on Monday.


With the win, Detroit has now won nine straight meetings against
Orlando in the playoffs dating back to the first round of the
2003 postseason.


Despite the teams' recent history, the Pistons aren't getting to
far ahead of themselves and are focused on Game Three.


"We held serve, but now they're going home," Billups said.
"This will be a big, big game for them in front of their crowd."


"We know it's going to be hard down there but we've just got to
go down and play and execute," said Pistons forward Rasheed
Wallace, who scored 17 points on Monday.  "I think we'll come
out all right."


The Magic need to be more consistent with their outside shooting
if they're going to stay competitive in this series.


Orlando was just 3-of-10 from the arc in the first half on
Monday as it trailed, 50-40, entering halftime.


The Magic finished shooting 42 percent (11-of-26) from 3-point
range in Game Two but only after they drilled seven consecutive
to forge a 68-65 lead with 3:59 remaining in the third quarter.


"That's the scary part of playing this team," Pistons coach Flip
Saunders said.  "They go through runs of making threes where
you're saying that it's never going to end."