NBA

Hill out for season; Pistons add to Magic's woes

ORLANDO - The Pistons didn't get caught looking ahead to a possible preview of an East final showdown.

In a tuneup before Sunday's game at Miami, Tayshaun Prince scored 26 points, Chauncey Billups added 23 and the Pistons won their fifth straight game, beating the Magic 114-102 on Friday night.

Detroit ensured itself of a better record than the eventual Atlantic Division winner, and can take the East's second seed by winning its third Central Division title in four years. Its magic number is three.

Opinions differed on the coming matchup with Miami, which has clinched the No. 1 seed in the East.

"Just another game," said Ben Wallace, who had 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. "Cannot win the championship on Sunday. Cannot. No way possible."

"It's going to be a game everybody wants to watch," Richard Hamilton said. "It's going to be a dogfight."

Rasheed Wallace scored 22 and Hamilton had 13 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.

The Magic has lost four of five and is 31/2 games behind Cleveland for the eighth and final postseason berth. The Cavaliers, who lost to the 76ers 103-98, visit Orlando on Monday.

Orlando was again without Grant Hill and the team announced that his sore left shin will sideline him for the rest of the season.

Orlando's DeShawn Stevenson scored 15 of his 25 in the fourth quarter. He made four 3-pointers, after sinking eight all season.

Steve Francis had 23 points and nine assists.

The Pistons pulled away late in the third. Billups' three 3s highlighted a 25-8 surge to put Detroit up by 17 entering the fourth.

The Magic, once down 21, cut it to 10 on Jameer Nelson's 3-pointer with 4:28 left. But the Pistons sealed the win with consecutive fastbreak baskets for a 14-point lead.

[Last modified April 9, 2005, 07:10:29]