By Brian Mahoney
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA ó Close for four games, no contest the last two.
Richard Hamilton hit his first five shots during Detroitís overpowering start, and the Pistons rolled into the second round of the playoffs by crushing the Philadelphia 76ers 100-77 on Thursday night to win the series 4-2.
The Pistons will play host to Orlando on Saturday in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Detroit split four meetings with the Magic this season.
Hamilton finished with 24 points, 13 in the decisive first quarter when he outscored the 76ers by himself. Chauncey Billups added 20 and Tayshaun Prince had 12.
They were all on the bench for nearly the entire fourth quarter, when the lead ballooned over 30 points. Detroit held Philadelphia without a field goal for nearly the first six minutes of the game.