Their league-high seven-game winning streak broken, the Magic seemingly had been trying to put as many victories as possible between last season's latest playoff loss to the Pistons.

But a push here and a shove there . . . a loose ball here and a key basket there . . . and all the nagging memories of the past two postseason ousters by Detroit came flooding back:

Game tied at 77-77 with six minutes left. Pistons score eight unanswered points. Veterans Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess make big plays, Wallace hitting a 3-pointer and McDyess making a jumper and three free throws.

In between Wallace's long-range shot and McDyess' shot-clock-beating basket, Hedo Turkoglu threw a ball wide of Rashard Lewis, an unforced error.

The Magic's last-gasp chance ended when Allen Iverson nailed a jumpshot for an 87-80 lead with one minute, 10 seconds left, an opportunity provided by McDyess coming up with a loose ball.

Detroit outrebounded Orlando 43-36 despite NBA rebound leader Dwight Howard corralling 18, and outscored the Magic 13-5 in second-chance points.

"You go back to the playoffs last year and they came up with the ball and rebounds," Van Gundy said. "Until we fight for the ball and get tougher . . . we're going to struggle against this team."

Magic shooting guard Mickael Pietrus sustained a sprained right wrist in the second quarter after a nasty fall following a dunk and did not return. The club said X-rays were negative and listed him day-to-day.

Lewis led Orlando with 23 points and Turkoglu added 14.

The Pistons' renowned defense slowed the game to their dockworker's style and halted the Magic's running game (two fastbreak points). Wallace limited Howard to one point in the first half and 18 total points on tough shots.

Rising point guard Rodney Stuckey (19 points) and Iverson (15) lured Magic point guard Jameer Nelson into foul trouble. Nelson, who has carried Orlando through its streak, scored just nine points and had zero assists.

And to think that the Pistons didn't even have small forward Richard Hamilton (groin strain).

After leadership changes on the bench (Flip Saunders out, Michael Curry in) and on the floor (trading Magic nemesis Chauncey Billups for Iverson in a November deal), the Pistons haven't been a dominating force at 18-11. They have been trying to mesh their measured game with Iverson's freewheeling.

It's only one loss for Orlando, and a regular-season game at that for a 24-7 team that is on course for another playoff appearance. But the Magic plainly were irritated that the Pistons got to them again.

"We gave them too much respect -- and we paid for it," Howard said. "They attacked the basket. We know they're a physical team and they outplayed us. They got hustle points.

"It's one game, and we're chasing Boston and Cleveland, but we have to do better against these guys."

The Magic have had a lot of road Magic again this season but have lost 10 of their last 11 here. During a late timeout, Van Gundy reminded his team of its comebacks against all odds, saying, "We're the best team in the league in this situation."

But not on this night, not with the Pistons dredging up the past.