Payton's triple-double leads Magic past Pistons
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Elfrid Payton had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists -- his fourth triple-double of the month - while leading the Orlando Magic to a 115-87 victory over the lethargic Detroit Pistons on Friday night at the Amway Center.
The Magic (27-46) have won three of their last four games. The Pistons (34-39) have lost six of their last seven, including five by at least 10 points, and have faded from the playoff race.
All Magic starters reached double figures before the third period ended. None played in the fourth. Terrence Ross hit 5 of 6 3-pointers and scored 18 points. Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon each scored 16 points. Evan Fournier had 15 points. Reserve Jodie Meeks added 15 points.
Reserve Jon Leuer led the Pistons with 16 points. Tobias Harris scored 11 points as the only Pistons starter in double figures. Reggie Jackson, who lost his starting role earlier this week, had 11 points as a reserve. Boban Marjanovic, who only played in the fourth quarter, had 15 points.
The Pistons never seriously challenged in the second half. They shot just 35.4 percent from the field (34 of 96) and made only 2 of 22 shots from 3-point range. The Magic established control late in the second quarter and never let Detroit back into the game.
The Magic scored 50 points from inside the lane. They also shot 51.6 percent from the field (47 of 91), and made 12 of 26 3-pointers.
The Magic jumped to a 79-52 lead midway in third quarter, prompting Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy to call a timeout and pull his entire starting lineup. Ross hit a pair of 3-pointers and Payton secured his triple-double during that early second-half stretch.
The Magic hit eight of their last nine shots in the first half to take a 57-39 lead. Ross scored seven consecutive points -- including a four-point play -- midway in the second period.
Fournier had 13 points and Vucevic 12 at intermission. Payton had eight assists and six rebounds. The Magic outshot the Pistons 51 percent to 30.8 percent in the first half. Orlando scored 32 points from inside the lane.
Van Gundy showed his displeasure early by calling a timeout just 31 seconds after the second quarter began. It didn't help, though, as the Magic did as they pleased.
NOTES: Pistons G Ish Smith remained in the starting lineup Friday for the second consecutive game as coach Stan Van Gundy searched for a way to stop the late-eason slide. It didn't work. On Wednesday, Smith replaced Reggie Jackson, who had started 50 games after returning from a knee injury. "It's not a permanent thing," Van Gundy said before the game. "We're just trying to find a way to get more energy at the beginning of games." . . . Van Gundy, who coached the Magic for five seasons, received considerable applause during pregame introductions. He said before the game, he thought the Pistons had to win seven or eight of their final 10 games to reach the playoffs. . . . Magic F Jeff Green missed his second consecutive game with lower back spasms. F Mario Hezonja moved into Green's spot in the playing rotation. . . The two teams play again in Orlando on the final day (April 12) of the regular season.