Sixers stun Pistons

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 host 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 -- despite having 24 points, 9 rebounds and matching a franchise playoff record with 7 blocks -- but he 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 2 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 3 of 4 free throws and a layup in two-plus minutes late in the game, he made 2 from the line to pull the Pistons within 1 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 1 of 2 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."

Iguodala made 2 free throws with seven seconds left to seal the win.

"I'm pretty sure we shocked a lot of people," Evans said.

Lakers 128, Nuggets 114: Pau Gasol's postgame smile made it clear how he felt about finally winning a postseason game.

His numbers revealed just how much he had to do with the victory.

Gasol established career playoff highs with 36 points and 8 assists, and he also had 16 rebounds and 3 blocked shots as the host Lakers took command in the third quarter and beat the Nuggets.

"It feels amazing, it feels great. I had a blast out there," the 7-foot Spaniard said after shooting 14 of 20 from the floor and 8 of 8 from the foul line. "We did a pretty good job; we can do better. We're happy with the win; I'm happy with the win. Hopefully there will be many more."

Kobe Bryant, who said he made himself a decoy through most of the game, scored 18 of his 32 points in the final eight minutes to keep Los Angeles safely ahead.

Magic 114, Raptors 100: Dwight Howard was in high school the last time the Orlando Magic won a playoff game. He made sure Orlando didn't have to wait any longer.

Howard had 25 points and 22 rebounds and blocked 5 shots, and the Magic defeated visiting Toronto in the opener of their first-round series. Jameer Nelson added 24 points for Orlando.

"It felt real good -- it was an amazing feeling for me," Howard said. "Actually, I almost got some tears."

Howard scored 6 straight points in a 10-0 fourth-quarter run that sealed Orlando's first playoff win since 2003. He also blocked 5 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.

Celtics 104, Hawks 81: Ray Allen scored 18 points and Kevin Garnett had 16 as the two newcomers who led the Boston Celtics to the NBA's best record sparked them to a win in their playoff opener against the visiting Hawks.

Garnett stopped a 14-3 Hawks run with a jumper, starting a 6-point Boston surge that made it 35-27 in the second quarter. And Allen scored 10 straight Celtics points midway through the third that extended a 13-point lead to 67-48 with 5:39 left in the quarter.

The top-seeded Celtics' lead ranged from 12 to 27 points the rest of the way.