Young’s layup helps 76ers stun Magic, 96-94

Thaddeus Young’s driving layup with two seconds left lifted host Philadelphia to a 96-94 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night, giving the 76ers a surprising 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Sunday night at the Wachovia Center. The 76ers, who stumbled into the playoffs with six losses in their last seven games and a 41-41 record, are two wins away from their first playoff series victory since Allen Iverson led them to the NBA finals in 2001.

Dwight Howard had 36 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who won 59 games during the regular season. Andre Iguodala led the 76erss with 29 points, though he missed two free throws in the final minute. Andre Miller scored 24 and Young had six.

Orlando, which blew 18-point leads in the first two games, nearly overcame a 17-point deficit in this one.

Howard made two free throws to tie the score at 94-94 with 7.4 seconds left. But Young took a pass near the baseline and drove hard to the basket. He nearly lost possession, held onto the ball and dropped in a left-handed shot to send the crowd into a frenzy. Lewis’ desperation heave at the end missed, and the Magic suddenly found themselves in a tough spot in a series everyone expected them to win.

Houston 86, Portland 83 -- Luis Scola scored 19 points, and the Rockets took a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series at Houston. Shane Battier had 16 points and the Rockets got away with a quiet night from Yao Ming to beat the Trail Blazers for the 11th time in the last 12 meetings in Houston.

Brandon Roy, who scored 42 points in Portland’s 107-103 win in Game 2, had 19 points, but went six for 18 from the field. The Trail Blazers trailed by 17 in the second half before rallying in the final quarter.

Cleveland 79, Detroit 68 -- LeBron James had 25 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, leading the Cavaliers to a 3-0 lead in the first-round series at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Pistons played hard for three-plus quarters before being rendered helpless by James, who had an alley-oop slam midway through the fourth quarter during an 18-2 run that started after the sixth tie of the game.

Joe Smith had a career playoffs-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 13 points.

Richard Hamilton had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Pistons.