Coach Michael Curry said last week the Pistons were not an elite team. But after four straight victories, his club is climbing back toward that status and sixth man Antonio McDyess is a major reason.

Though he doesn't start, McDyess is usually on the court during crunch time.

"The reason we try to keep Dice in the second and fourth (quarters) is that when he and Sheed (Rasheed Wallace) are on the court, it's tough to help off anybody without giving a real good shooter a shot," Curry said. "So, you have to give one of our perimeter guys or give Dice a shot if you're really going to go help on Sheed."

McDyess is shooting 53.7 percent from the field since returning to the Pistons on Dec. 9. He was traded in November as part of the Allen Iverson deal with Denver. He was required to sit out a month after reaching a buyout agreement with the Nuggets before he could re-sign with the Pistons.

Even a hard shot to the ribs, which temporarily had McDyess writhing in pain, couldn't hold him back against Orlando. He made an off-balance pass in the late going that led to an Allen Iverson jumper to give the Pistons a seven-point lead.

"When he was sitting at home for those 30 days, we couldn't wait for him to get back here to do just exactly what he did tonight," Iverson said. "He gave us a big lift on both ends of the floor."

Now the Pistons, who play New Jersey at home on Wednesday afternoon, believe they're making real progress after a mediocre start to the Iverson era.

PISTONS 88, MAGIC 82: The Pistons committed just four turnovers while halting the Magic's seven-game winning streak. Four of the Pistons' starters scored at least 15 points, led by Rodney Stuckey's 19.

Orlando, led by Dwight Howard's 18 points and 18 rebounds, was limited to 40-percent shooting in its first trip to The Palace since being eliminated by the Pistons from last season's playoffs.