Orlando's Jameer Nelson, center, splits the defense of Detroit's Arron Afflalo, left, and Antonio McDyess. The Magic defeated the Pistons, 111-86, on Wednesday night in Orlando, Fla.
Orlando, Fla. — Rashard Lewis was due for a breakout game. It couldn't have come at a better time for the Orlando Magic.
Lewis, Orlando's big offseason acquisition, scored a career playoff-high 33 points, and the Magic beat the Detroit Pistons, 111-86, on Wednesday night to gain a little momentum in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Detroit still leads the series 2-1, though its suffered a tough injury. All-Star guard Chauncey Billups strained his right hamstring early in the first quarter and didn't return. The Pistons were hopeful he could play in Game 4 Saturday in Orlando, but planned to re-evaluate him again today.
Lewis was shooting 36 percent from the field in the first two games of the series, including 2-of-12 from three-point range. He shot 11-of-15 on Wednesday, 5-of-6 from behind the arc, and scored 12 of Orlando's last 14 points as the Magic took a 54-42 halftime lead.
"I made my first couple and really felt like I was going to have it going tonight," said Lewis, who came to the Magic in a trade with Seattle. "I know my three ball hasn't been falling this whole series.
"Detroit's obviously been a team that's been beating us the past couple of years," Lewis said. "The main focus is we don't want to dig ourselves too deep of a hole. We want to try to win our home games, take the series back to Detroit 2-2."
Richard Hamilton scored 24 points for Detroit, and Tayshaun Prince had 22, while Rasheed Wallace scored 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting. With Billups out, rookie Rodney Stuckey stepped up big for the Pistons. He scored 19 points - nine in the second quarter - but he didn't bring the same floor presence as Billups, Detroit's steady leader and clutch three-point threat. Billups was averaging 17.5 points in the postseason and had 28 against the Magic in Game 2.
Lakers 120, Jazz 110
Los Angeles - Kobe Bryant had 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists after receiving his first MVP award, and Los Angeles beat Utah to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Lakers remain the NBA's only unbeaten team in the postseason.
The series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4 on Friday night 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.
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