THE visiting Detroit Pistons edged the Orlando Magic 90-89 on Saturday to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series.

Tayshaun Prince scored the go-ahead basket on a running jumper for Detroit with 8.9 seconds left and Hedo Turkoglu missed a desperation layup with time expiring to put the Pistons one victory away from reaching the conference finals.

In the other Eastern semi-final, the Cleveland Cavaliers returned home after dropping the first two games in Boston and crushed the Celtics 108-84 to draw within 2-1 in the series.

The Cavs stormed to a 32-13 first-quarter lead in handing the Celtics their four straight road defeat in the playoffs.

Game Four is in Cleveland today.

LeBron James and Delonte West led a balanced Cleveland attack with 21 points each. Kevin Garnett was Boston’s top scorer with 17.

Richard Hamilton scored 32 points to lead Detroit. Prince scored 17 points and Rasheed Wallace contributed 16 and eight rebounds for the Pistons, whose leading guard Chauncey Billups did not play because of a hamstring injury.

Turkoglu led the Magic with 20 points.

(SD-Agencies)