Hornets Second Half Rally Puts Spurs Down 0-2

Chauncey Billups scored a game-high 28 points as the Pistons held on for a Game 2 victory in Detroit on Monday night, 100-93.

Chris Paul scored 13 of his game-high 30 points to lead a crucial third-quarter charge that saw the Hornets go from one point down, at 43-42 at halftime, to having an 18-point lead. Photo courtesy: New Orleans Hornets

NEW ORLEANS - The San Antonio Spurs looked like two different teams in Monday's Game 2 at New Orleans Arena.

In the first half, they bounced back from their Game 1 defeat in typical Spurs fashion, with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker leading the charge. But the second-half Spurs returned to Game 1 form, stunned by the New Orleans Hornets on both ends of the court as they fell 102-84 and dug themselves a 0-2 hole for the series.

Chris Paul scored 13 of his game-high 30 points to lead a crucial third-quarter charge that saw the Hornets go from one point down, at 43-42 at halftime, to having an 18-point lead. The Hornets point guard also finished with 12 assists.

The usually dependable David West had a rare bad night, scoring 10 points on 2-for-11 shooting from the field, but other Hornets stepped up to fill the gap. Peja Stojakovic hit five 3-pointers on his way to 25 points and Morris Peterson shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor to add 12.

After scoring just five points in the two teams' second-round opener, Duncan opened Game 2 by hitting for 11 in the first half. After intermission, as the Hornets widened their lead, Duncan again felt the sting of New Orleans' defense. Forced into bad shots and turnovers, the three-time Finals MVP scored just two points in the stanza. Duncan finished with 18 points and eight boards.

Parker had it even tougher. Closed out of the lane time and again, the Spurs point guard also struggled from outside. Parker scored 11 points and had three assists as San Antonio again had no answer for the Hornets' stifling defense and their adjustments and quickness on offense.

Monday night's downfall marks the first time the Spurs have lost the first two games of a series since 2001, when San Antonio was swept in the Conference Finals by the Los Angeles Lakers. The Spurs will try to make a comeback Thursday when the series moves to the AT&T Center for Game 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Detroit 100 - Orlando 93 (Pistons Lead Series 2-0)

Chauncey Billups scored a game-high 28 points, and was joined by four teammates in double figures, as the Pistons held on for a Game 2 victory in Detroit on Monday night, 100-93.

The Magic came back from a 14-point deficit to trail by just two, 95-93, with 13 seconds left to play, but failed to tie or take lead and were forced to send Billups to the line, who predictably iced the game.

Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson each led Orlando with 22 points, and Rashard Lewis added 20 in defeat. Howard also collected 18 rebounds and two blocks.

Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace, meanwhile, were big for Detroit, eaching scoring 17 as the Pistons took a 2-0 series lead and kept their homecourt advantage in tact.

Game 3 is set for Wednesday in Orlando at 8 ET on TNT.

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