Detroit gains Finals

MIAMI -- When it mattered most, the Pistons behaved and executed like defending champions. Trailing by 6 points early in the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena last night, Detroit stayed composed and focused on the task at hand. The easily distracted and argumentative team that took the court earlier in the series was only a memory.

Poised on defense and at the line, the Pistons earned an 88-82 win in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals and a trip back to the NBA Finals. The Heat, meanwhile, could not find the shots they wanted and saw an impressive season end in bitter disappointment.

''This is very rewarding," said Detroit's Richard Hamilton (22 points). ''We went through a whole lot this year with the brawl, with guys being out, guys being hurt, coach [Larry Brown] being sick and things like that. It's a great feeling because we all came together. We all stuck together and we all had each other's back. To be in this situation again, it's a great feeling."

With two plays late in the fourth, momentum turned in Detroit's favor for good. First, Chauncey Billups nailed a 3-pointer with 4:58 remaining to cap a 6-0 run and tie the game, 74-74. Then Dwyane Wade missed a driving, lefthanded layup and fell hard to the floor. He got up slowly, clearly aggravating his strained right rib muscle. The Heat and Wade weren't the same for the rest of the game. Miami missed seven of its final nine shots and seemed to sense its best chance at putting pressure on Detroit had been squandered.

After Shaquille O'Neal made one of two free throws with 1:45 remaining, he left an opening for the Pistons to take the lead for good. And they did with a pair of foul shots from Rasheed Wallace, going ahead, 80-79, with 1:26 left. A rebound tip by Wallace stretched the lead.

Damon Jones had a chance to bring Miami within 1, but he missed his first free throw. Chauncey Billups hit four straight free throws in the closing seconds, making sure an alley-oop by O'Neal did not change the course of the game. Prince established the final margin with another pair of free throws.

''I love being in those situations, where the game is near and I have a chance to ice it," said Billups (18 points, 8 assists). ''I thrive in those kind of situations. I think my team loves for me to do those kind of things. They have that much confidence in me."

The Pistons appeared on the verge of taking control when Wallace hit a 20-footer that put them ahead, 57-50, with 6:21 left in the third quarter. But the Heat responded with a 10-3 run started and capped with driving layups from Wade.

Twisting around a double team of Tayshaun Prince and Wallace for the second of the two layups, the way Wade scored was just as important as when he scored. The basket tied the game, 60-60, with 3:10 remaining in the third. It was just the kind of athletic drive the Heat have come to expect from Wade, who showed no signs of his injury on the play. The basket marked Wade's fifth consecutive field goal in the quarter. But there would be no late-game heroics.

''The game was what this matchup should have been," said Wade, who scored 12 of his 20 points in the third quarter. ''It went down to the last couple seconds. They made plays at the end that we didn't make. That was the main thing.

''With my injury, you know, anybody in my position would have done the same thing and came out and tried to gut it out and that's what I tried to do."

Even with Wade back, Game 7 followed a pattern similar to the one established in Game 6. After the Heat finished the first quarter ahead, 23-21, the Pistons began to take control. Or so it seemed. Detroit led by as many as 10 points after Billups capped a 12-4 run with a 3-pointer.

The Pistons were the picture of patience and unselfish play in the half as they shot 49 percent and recorded 12 assists on 20 field goals. No player was more efficient than Hamilton, who went 8 for 10 from the floor to score 16 points by the break.

The Heat appeared the picture of pain and frustration. Wade picked up three personals while trying to find his form as he went 2 for 8 from the floor in the first half. Jones briefly left the game with 2:01 remaining in the second quarter after spraining his left ankle. While O'Neal led Miami with 12 points, he needed to do more on the glass. The Pistons outrebounded the Heat, 24-18, in the first half and earned 12 second-chance points as a result.

But one thing went very right for Miami. Just as Detroit prepared to head back to the locker room with a comfortable lead, Eddie Jones heaved a running jumper from a few feet inside the midcourt line as the buzzer sounded. The 3-pointer cut the Detroit halftime lead to 45-40 and gave the Heat a valuable emotional lift. But Miami would need more than that.

''We had a lot of opportunities to win this thing, but we made too many mistakes," said O'Neal (27 points, 9 rebounds). ''I just think they had a little bit more experience, but guys played well and we almost had it."