USA – Garnett’s points, Perkins’ muscle earns Celtics win (+ video)

BOSTON (NBA) – The Boston Celtics are just one win away from returning to the NBA finals after a 106-102 home triumph over the Detroit Pistons.

The victory has given the Celtics a 3-2 in the Eastern Conference final showdown.

Kevin Garnett scored 33 points in the win with Ray Allen contributing 29.

Boston out-rebounded Detroit 42-25 with big man Kendrick Perkins grabbing 16 of those for the men in green.

Game Six is back in Detroit on Friday.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, carry a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals into Game Five on Thursday night at the Staples Center.

NBA’s Mea Culpa on Fisher Foul

The officials didn’t blow the whistle at the end of Game Four in San Antonio, which means they blew it!

That’s the stark admission by the NBA after no foul was called on Derek Fisher when he bumped Brent Barry as time was running out.

Barry was about to launch a potential game-winning three-ball but was knocked off balance by Fisher.

The Spurs guard, who had hit five threes earlier in the game, wanted a foul but in the aftermath, coach Gregg Popovich and the other Spurs players said the correct decision has been made not to call the foul.

But the NBA has said otherwise.

“With the benefit of instant replay, it appears a foul should have been called,” an NBA spokesman said.

A foul would have sent Barry to the charity stripe with a chance to tie the game.

Instead, he missed badly with his shot before the buzzer sounded.


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