MINSK, Belarus -- Minsk has emerged as the main contender to host the 2019 edition of the troubled European Games.In comments reported by state news agency Belta, Belarusian National Olympic Committee vice president Maxim Ryzhenkov said our European partners are very interested in the second European Games taking place in Belarus.The comments came ahead of a meeting of the European Olympic Committees in Minsk this week.The former Soviet republic of Belarus, which has been ruled by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko for more than two decades, could be a controversial choice as host nation because of its record on human rights.With the country in recession, Belarus could also face financial pressures in hosting the event.The main issue is the budget, Ryzhenkov said. The second European Games demand the investment of significant sums. Its necessary to carefully consider and weigh up everything.The 2019 European Games were originally due to take place in the Netherlands, which pulled out last year citing financial reasons. Russia was considered as a possible replacement by the EOC, but repeatedly declined to host the games.The inaugural European Games were held last year in Baku, Azerbaijan, and faced controversy over human rights issues and difficulties in attracting top athletes. The games also stretched Azerbaijan financially with construction of many new venues and a lavish opening ceremony which cost $95 million alone, according to Azerbaijans sports minister.Minsk would likely need to spend far less to host the games than Baku, having built or refurbished many sports venues in recent years. The Belarusian capital hosted the world track cycling championships in 2013 and the world ice hockey championships a year later. Nike Air VaporMax Plus Black Gold . 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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- For about ten minutes on Sunday night, it appeared the Detroit Pistons had solved the Orlando Magics lock-down defense.Like the rest of the NBA, they will have to keep searching for answers.Orlando gave up 27 points in the first 9:30 but then shut the Pistons down in a 98-92 victory.Im proud of our guys, because that team was averaging 118 points their last three games, and that was on the road, Orlando coach Frank Vogel said. We held them to 92, and most of that was our second-half defense. They were at home, and they got 42 points on 37 percent shooting in the second half.Serge Ibaka scored 21 points and blocked four shots, while Nikola Vucevic added 16 points and eight rebounds.The Magic have held 10 of their last 11 opponents under 100 points.We just changed our mindset, Ibaka said. We knew we could play defense, and now were playing for each other on offense. We knew we could play this well. We just had to keep working.Pistons guard Reggie Jackson made his season debut after missing Detroits first 21 games with knee tendinitis. He had 18 points in 23 minutes. Marcus Morris led Detroit with 21 points.I felt good out there, but I wish we could have gotten a win out of it, Jackson said. I think there might have been a little rust, but I was able to do everything I need to do. I wouldnt be out there if I was going to be physically limited.Orlando won for the third time in four games while Detroit had its three-game winning streak snapped.We were terrible on defense, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. Our offensive numbers were good enough to win, especially against that defense, but we didnt guard anyone. We just didnt want to put in the effort.On Jacksons first possession, the Pistons went to their bread-and-butter play -- he and Andre Drummond running a high pick and roll. Jackson came off the screen and hit a 3-pointer, bringing a cheer from the small crowd. Jackson played the first 5:50 of the quarter as Detroit built a 16-10 lead.Morris had 14 points in the first 7 minutes but didnt get much support from his teammmates.dddddddddddd. The Magic scored 35 points in the second quarter to take a 58-50 halftime lead. Orlando shot 62.5 percent from the floor in the half to Detroits 51.2 percent and only turned the ball over four times.Were starting to see the value of the pass on the offensive end, Vogel said. If we pass with good timing, good intent and good delivery, it will help us shoot the ball, and weve got good shooters.The Magic led by 11 late in the third, but the Pistons narrowed the gap to 78-73 at quarters end. Orlando moved the margin back to double figures with nine minutes left, with the Pistons struggling to get open looks against one of the NBAs best defenses.Ibaka ended a Pistons run with a 3-pointer to make it 90-80 with 5:32 to play, then blocked Drummonds dunk attempt at the other end.Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to pull the Pistons within 95-90, but Jeff Green clinched the game with a turnaround jumper.TIP INSMagic: Former Piston Jodie Meeks had seven points in 15 minutes in his second game of the season. Meeks only played three games last season for Detroit due to chronic foot problems.Pistons: Jackson spent most of the game matched up against D.J. Augustin, the main player given up by the Pistons in the three-team trade that brought him to Detroit in 2015.TROUBLE FROM THE LINEThe Pistons were 0 for 5 from the free-throw line in the first half, with Drummond missing four in a row. He came into the game shooting 47.4 percent from the line after setting a league record at 35.5 percent in 2015-16.RARE STREAKThe Magic have won two straight road games for the first time this season. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers 105-88 on Friday.ONLY A SINGLE-DOUBLEVucevic fell two rebounds short of his seventh straight double-double. He had a nine-game double-double streak in 2012-13.UP NEXTMagic: Visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.Pistons: Host the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. ' ' '