Hamilton's status tonight not known

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Pistons don't know if Richard Hamilton will be healthy enough to play against the Celtics tonight in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Detroit's leading scorer strained his right elbow in the final seconds of Boston's 106-102 win Wednesday night in Game 5. X-rays were negative, and Hamilton's arm was in a sling as he left TD Banknorth Garden.

"If we had to play [yesterday], I don't think he'd play," said coach Flip Saunders, whose team didn't practice yesterday. "It would be different if it was the left arm, but it's his right arm. The shooting arm. The golden arm."

Hamilton will be a game-time decision.

If he cannot play, Saunders said he would probably insert rookie Rodney Stuckey at shooting guard.

Material from the Detroit News was used in this report.