Pistons stay alive
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Detroit’s defense would not let the Pistons’ season end.
The Pistons got back to their swarming ways when the Miami Heat had the ball, and Tayshaun Prince scored a career playoff-high 29 points to lift Detroit to a 91-78 win Wednesday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Heat did not score in the final 3 1/2 minutes while Detroit pulled away with the last nine points of the game. Miami also hurt itself by going 6 of 20 from the free-throw line.
“We just came out aggressive like we talked about and played Pistons basketball,” Chauncey Billups said. “There’s pressure on them now, now that they are home.”
Miami hosts Game 6 Friday night with a chance to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
“Ain’t no pressure on us at all, we have a golden opportunity to win Game 6 on our home floor,” Miami’s Dwyane Wade said. “They’re the defending conference champions, there’s no pressure on us.”
Wade scored a series-low 23 points – eight less than his previous series average – and Shaquille O’Neal had 19 points for the Heat.
Billups had 17 points and 10 assists, and Richard Hamilton added 16 points and a career playoff-high 10 rebounds.
Detroit reserve Antonio McDyess provided a boost with 10 of his 12 points coming after halftime.
Miami, which trailed by as much as 11 in the first half, made it 51-all early in the third quarter.
Detroit’s defense created a little cushion in what was a tightly contested game for much of the night.
Prince had a steal and a dunk, then on the ensuing possession Ben Wallace brought the crowd to its feet.
Just when O’Neal was about to throw down another one of his backboard-shaking dunks, the 6-foot-7 Wallace leaped and stunted O’Neal’s slam – forcing a jump ball, and putting the 7-1 O’Neal on his back.
“It was a big play – a momentum-changer,” Wallace said.
Around the league
The Portland Trail Blazers decided not to extend general manager John Nash’s contract. Team president Steve Patterson will serve as interim general manager. … A Phoenix Suns fan has accused the wife of Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson of assaulting her in the stands during Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night. Rebecca Kettle told police Cassandra Johnson hit her twice in the shoulder during a verbal confrontation. … Indiana Pacers forward Peja Stojakovic won’t play for Serbia and Montenegro in the world championships this summer, his agent said.