The Detroit Pistons and the New Orleans Hornets will both be looking to go up 2-0 in their second-round playoff series with wins Monday night. Here is your NBA Gameday:
Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons, 7:00pm ET
The Magic didn't have much trouble finishing off the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the NBA playoffs, but it looks like they'll be finding the going much tougher against the Pistons in Round 2. Orlando fell 91-73 on the road to Detroit in Game 1 of this series on Saturday, getting outscored 48-31 in the second half of that defeat. Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu each picked up 18 points for Orlando in that contest. Dwight Howard was held to 12 points and eight boards, and he had to leave early with a bruised thumb.
The Pistons were tested by the upstart Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs, but they eventually managed to slip past them and into this second-round set against the Magic. Detroit had just a one-point lead on Orlando heading into the second half on Saturday night, but they took over the game after the break. Chauncey Billups tossed in a game-high 19 points and seven assists for Detroit in the victory, while Richard Hamilton was good for 17 points on the night. Tayshaun Prince had 12 points.
X-rays taken on Howard's thumb after Game 1 didn't reveal any damage, so he's expected to play on Monday.
The oddsmakers, though, still opened Detroit as a 5.5-point home favorite in Game 2, while the total for the contest was opened at 185 points.
San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Hornets, 9:30pm ET
If the Spurs are going to get back to the NBA Finals this season they're going to have to find a way to get past Chris Paul and his Hornets. New Orleans cruised past Dallas in the first round of the playoffs, and they were equally impressive in a 101-82 home win over the Spurs in Game 1 of their second-round series on Saturday. Paul picked up 17 points and 13 assists for New Orleans in that contest, while David West exploded for a game-high 30 points. Peja Stojakovic had 22 points for the winning Hornets Saturday.
San Antonio was held to just 33 points in the second half of Saturday's loss, and after handily dispatching the rival Suns in the first round it looks like they're going to have to make some adjustments against the Hornets in Round 2. Tony Parker scored a team-high 23 points for the Spurs in their loss on Saturday, while Manu Ginobili was good for 19 points and seven assists. Bruce Bowen tossed in 17 points on the night, and Tim Duncan was limited to just five points and three rebounds by the New Orleans defense.
The oddsmakers like the Hornets' chances of going up 2-0 in this series, as they were opened as 3-point home favorites. The total for the contest was opened at 182 points.
