USA - Pistons put away Bulls to reach Eastern Conference finals

CHICAGO (NBA) - Richard Hamilton and the Detroit Pistons weren't going to let two straight losses derail their mission of reaching another Eastern Conference final.

Hamilton scored 23 points and Chauncey Billups added 21 and seven assists to help the Pistons advance to the conference finals for the fifth straight season with a 95-85 triumph over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Tayshaun Prince had 17 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, and Rasheed Wallace added 16 and 13 rebounds for Detroit, who held Chicago to just 33% shooting (12 of 36) in the second half, including just six field goals in the fourth quarter.

The Pistons will face either second-seeded Cleveland or sixth-seeded New Jersey in the conference finals. The Nets host the Cavaliers in Game Six Friday.

Hamilton shot nine of 18 from the floor and Billups was a perfect 14 of 14 from the foul line for Detroit, who shot 42% (32 of 76) and were up 3-0 in the series before dropping the last two games by an average of 15.5 points.

The Pistons had to overcome Bulls forward PJ Brown, who tied his play-off career-high with 20 points.

The 14-year veteran, who's appeared in 81 play-off games, also had 20 against the Orlando Magic on May 1, 1997, when he was a member of the Miami Heat.

After averaging 7.4 points in the first five games, Brown tallied all of his points on seven if 12 shooting in the first half. He missed his three attempts after half-time.

With the Pistons leading, 74-69, entering the final quarter, Prince scored six of the team's first seven points, including a 10-foot hook shot with 5:56 left for an 81-72 lead.

Detroit held an 85-78 lead with 1:07 left before Billups made six free throws and Hamilton added three to seal it for the Pistons, who never let the Bulls get closer than six points the rest of the way.

Trailing, 48-43, to start the third quarter, the Pistons used a 12-1 run capped by a three-pointer by Prince at the 3:37 mark to take a 55-49 lead.

Wallace had five points in the spurt. A three-pointer by Ben Gordon with 1:23 left cut the Bulls' deficit to 73-69 before reserve Jason Maxiell split a pair of free throws to help Detroit end the third quarter up, 74-69.

Gordon scored 19 points and Luol Deng 17 for Chicago, who lost two of three home games in this round.

Hinrich had 11 points and 11 assists for the Bulls, who shot just 37% (28 of 75) after connecting on 53% in their wins in Games Four and Five.

Chicago, which made just five of 18 three-pointers, failed to shoot better than 37% in all four of their losses.

FIBA