Associated Press
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. ó The Detroit Pistons were hanging out at the scorer’s table as if it was a preseason game, joking around with a former teammate as he enjoyed a drink and nachos in the front row.
Philadelphia made them pay for it.
Andre Miller scored 20 points and Willie Green had a career playoff-high 17, helping the 76ers stun Detroit 90-86 Sunday in Game 1 of their first-round series.
Sixers forward Reggie Evans smiled when told the Pistons were shooting the breeze with Flip Murray during breaks in the game.
“That’s good,” Evans said.
Rasheed Wallace took the blame for the loss ó despite having 24 points, nine rebounds and matching a franchise playoff record with seven blocks ó but didn’t think blowing a big lead had anything to do with talking to Murray.
“That’s my man,” Wallace explained.
The Eastern Conference’s second-seeded team was expected to beat the seventh-seeded Sixers by double digits and did lead by 15 midway through the third quarter.
But Philadelphia refused to follow the script.
After the Sixers trailed 62-47, Green made two baskets during a 10-0 run that sparked a comeback.
“That kind of swung the momentum,” Miller said.
Miller gave Philadelphia a lead midway through the fourth quarter for the first time since late in the first.
After Chauncey Billups missed three of four free throws and a layup in 2-plus minutes late in the game, he made two from the line to pull the Pistons within one with 45 seconds left.
Detroit’s Jason Maxiell drew a charge on the ensuing possession, giving the home team a chance to avoid an upset.
The Pistons set up a play that created an open shot for Tayshaun Prince, but his jumper was short. After Andre Iguodala made one of two free throws with 11 seconds left, Wallace missed a shot near the basket that would have tied it at 88.
“I’m going to put this one me,” Wallace said. “There’s no excuses.
“The last bunny, that was a bucket I should’ve made. I’m going to take this one on the chin.”
Magic 114, Raptors 100
ORLANDO, Fla. ó Dwight Howard had 25 points and 22 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson scored 24 points to help the Magic beat the Raptors in the opener of their first-round series.
Howard scored six straight points in a 10-0 fourth-quarter run that sealed Orlando’s first playoff win since 2003. He also blocked five shots and made 9-of-11 free throws.
Anthony Parker had 24 points and 8 rebounds for Toronto, Chris Bosh scored 21 and Rasho Nesterovic had 16 points and 8 rebounds. Jason Kapono scored 18 off the bench.