Howard, Magic hold off Pistons 110-103

The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard had 22 points and 12 rebounds to help the Orlando Magic hold off Charlie Villanueva and the Detroit Pistons 110-103 Friday night.

Villanueva scored 22 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to get past the defending Eastern Conference champs, who led by 19 early and never trailed at all.

Matt Barnes had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Magic and Jameer Nelson also scored 18, with eight assists.

Orlando had lost 20 of 25 regular season games to the Pistons, including one earlier in the week.

The closest Detroit came on Friday night was 96-90 after a shot by Villanueva with about three minutes to play.

Rodney Stuckey scored 20 points and Ben Gordon finished with 19 for the Pistons.

Three nights after fouling out with eight points in 17 minutes, Howard was nearly perfect. He made 7 of 8 field goals and 8 of 9 free throws and didn't even commit a foul until after halftime.

The Magic, who were already without Vince Carter (sprained left ankle) and Rashard Lewis (10-game suspension) lost starting power forward Ryan Anderson to a sprained right ankle in the third quarter.

Detroit was without starters Rip Hamilton (right ankle sprain) and Tayshaun Prince (lower back strain).

NOTES: The Magic shot 30 of 35 overall from the line. ... Former Magic coach Brian Hill is an assistant now in Detroit, working for first-year coach John Kuester, who was one of his assistants in Orlando. ... The Pistons were staying at a downtown hotel less than mile from where a gunman opened fire and killed one person and wounded five others late Friday morning, causing a shutdown of city streets during a search for the assailant. They had to detour returning to the team hotel after the morning practice.

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November 06, 2009 10:36 PM EST

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