Vince Carter led the way with 25 points and nine assists and Brandon Bass poured in 27 points off the bench to lead the short-handed Orlando Magic to a 104-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday.

Marcin Gortat started in place of Dwight Howard and collected 14 points and 11 rebounds while Quentin Richardson added 15 points and seven boards for the Magic, who were missing Howard, Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick and Michael Pietrus due to a virus that is spreading through the locker room.

Being down four key players did not matter much against the hapless Pistons as Orlando grabbed the lead in the third quarter and pulled away in the fourth behind Carter, Bass and Rashard Lewis to post its sixth consecutive win.

The Magic shot nearly 60 percent (43 of 72) from the floor and won the battle of the boards, 35-22.

Tayshaun Prince scored 30 points and Charlie Villanueva chipped in 15 off the bench for Detroit, which has dropped four in a row and eight of 10.