Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis (left) works against Detroit Pistons' Rasheed Wallace (centre) and Theo Ratliff during Game Three of their NBA Eastern Conference play-off series on Wednesday night in Orlando. The Magic defeated the Pistons 111-86. - AP
ORLANDO, Florida (AP):
RASHARD LEWIS scored a career play-off-high 33 points on Wednesday night and Orlando beat Detroit 111-86 in Game Three of the Eastern Con-ference semi-finals, the Magic's first win in the series.
The Pistons lost point guard Chauncey Billups just four minutes into the game when he drove to the basket and got tangled up with Orlando's Jameer Nelson.
Nelson's leg caught Billups' foot, and Billups fell hard to the court with a strained right hamstring. Billups was averaging 17.5 points in the post-season and had 28 against the Magic in Game Two.
Game Four is tomorrow in Orlando.
Richard Hamilton scored 24 points for Detroit. With Billups out, rookie Rodney Stuckey stepped up big for the Pistons, scoring 19 points, nine in the second quarter.
Dwight Howard had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, who saw Detroit get within 73-69 at the end of the third quarter, but pulled away again.
Nine straight losses
The Magic had lost nine straight play-off games to the Pistons, tied for the fourth-longest streak in NBA history, including a first-round sweep last season.
In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant celebrated his first MVP award by getting 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semi-finals with a 120-110 win and remained the NBA's only unbeaten team in the postseason.
The series shifts to Utah for Games Three and Four tonight and Sunday. The Jazz had an NBA-best 37-4 home record this season, but one of the losses was by 11 points to the Lakers on March 20.
Bryant received his Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before the game.
Derek Fisher, who played for Utah last season, added 22 points for the Lakers, who shot 57.4 per cent from the field and made 35 free throws - 22 more than the Jazz.
Deron Williams had 25 points to lead seven Utah players in double figures.
The Jazz outrebounded the Lakers again 41-37, but shot 44.6 per cent while attempting a season-high 101 shots - 33 more than Los Angeles.
