ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -Chauncey Billups scored 25 points, Richard Hamilton added 19 and the Detroit Pistons overcame a lackluster fourth quarter to beat the Orlando Magic 97-93 Saturday and sweep the first-round series.
The sweep was Detroit’s first in the playoffs since 1990, when the “Bad Boys” won a second consecutive NBA title.
Dwight Howard had 29 points and 17 rebounds – dominating the post for the only time in the series – to lead the Magic. He was 10-of-15 from the field and 9-of-17 from the free throw line.
Grant Hill added 17 points for Orlando and Darko Milicic had 14 – half of them in the closing minutes.
Detroit will face the winner of the Chicago-Miami series. The Bulls lead 3-0 heading into Sunday’s Game 4.
Cavaliers 98, Wizards 92
WASHINGTON (AP) – LeBron James had his best game of the series with 30 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Cavaliers, who are one game away from sweeping a playoff series for the first time in franchise history.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 24 points and eight rebounds, but the most glaring statistic was the Wizards’ 6-for-20 shooting in the fourth quarter.
Antawn Jamison scored a career playoff-high 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Wizards. Antonio Daniels, who drove more aggressively to the basket than he did in the first two games, finished with 20 points and 13 assists.
The Wizards had hoped the comforts of home would give them the final push needed to beat the Cavaliers, even though Washington hasn’t won at home since March 28 – a skid that’s now reached seven games.
Game 4 is Monday in Washington.
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