Detroit-Orlando: Pistons Stun Magic

     The Detroit Pistons live inside the Orlando Magics head. This was very apparent in Detroit's 85-80 win on Tuesday night at the Palace, and no Piston deserves more credit for this win than Will Bynum.
  
     Bynum finished with 20 points, on 7-15 shooting, along with 3 rebounds. Bynum took a "Three Stooges" poke to the left eye from Marcin Gortat halfway through the fourth, which left him gripping his face as he was led to the trainers room.
  
     He wasn't gone long though, and made his presence felt immediately when he returned. He took the ball right at Dwight Howard, showing no fear or memory of what happened last time he drove to the paint. He missed the lay-up but drew the sixth foul on Howard.
  
      Bruised and battered, Bynum showed Detroit that rough and tumble basketball hasn't left with the changing faces. Even without Bynum's bloodshot eye this game was very physical.
  
     At one point Rodney Stuckey fouled Howard who came up gripping his right shoulder and had a few words to say to Stuckey. A few minutes later Bynum was driving to the hoop and Jameer Nelson all but tackled him to the ground, which left Bynum grabbing his shoulder. It's hard not to see that foul as retaliatory.

     Stuckey and Ben Gordon also had great games. Stuckey almost posted a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Gordon put down 23 points and was a perfect 11-11 from the line.

     Gordon had a little back and forth with JJ Redick during the third. Redick got called for a tech after complaining loudly about his foul on Gordon. This seemed to light a fire under Redick, leading him to show some nice ball handling skills as he created his own shot and drained a long deuce. That wasn't the end as Gordon came right back at him and drove him to the paint then proceeded to drop a high bank shot over Redick's outstretched arms.

     Charlie Villanueva seems to be acclimating slowly but is making progress. He scored 12 points and eight rebounds but did it on 3-11 shooting and missed both of his three point attempts. His improvement is going to be a big key to the success of this team.

     Kwame Brown and Ben Wallace did an excellent job keeping Howard and Gortat in check. This was a very welcome sight as the Pistons front court has allowed some very high numbers to opponents big men. Actually Orlando's centers only managed 12 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks combined.

     This was the first of back to back games for the Pistons as they travel to Toronto to face the Raptors on Wednesday. They will again be without Richard Hamilton and possibly Tayshaun Prince.