Pistons reach semis for 6th straight year

DETROIT, Michigan: Richard Hamilton scored 31 points and the Detroit Pistons advanced to the National Basketball Association semifinals for the sixth year in a row by defeating Orlando 91-86 Tuesday.

The Pistons captured the best-of-seven Eastern Conference second-round series four games to one and will next play either the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers for a berth in next month's NBA Finals.

"It's an awesome feeling for us to get the opportunity to play in the Eastern Conference finals for six straight years, but it's one of those things that we feel as though we're supposed to," Hamilton said.

"That's our confidence. We feel as though we have to make it there and we have to try to get back to the Finals."

During the latest run of trips to the NBA's final four, the Pistons won a title in 2004 and lost the 2005 final to San Antonio in seven games but lost in the East final in 2003 and the past two years.

Detroit improved to 15-3 in potential series-clinching games and became the first team to reach six conference finals in a row since the Los Angeles Lakers did it in the West from 1984 through 1989.

Antonio McDyess scored 17 points, 11 of them in the fourth quarter, and grabbed 11 rebounds to spark the Pistons despite playing with a heavy heart after learning just before the game that his grandmother had died.

"It made me think she was looking down upon us and I'll definitely dedicate this win to her because she never missed a game," McDyess said. "She always called me, always talking about the game. She loved the Pistons.

"I'm just happy to have the opportunity to win this game on such an important day of her passing - brings tears to my eyes, pretty much. I tried not to think about it when I was on the court. She was definitely with me."

The Pistons also had 15 points from Rodney Stuckey and 14 points from Rasheed Wallace.

"We just tried to play together and talk on defense," McDyess said. "Rip (Hamilton) got us going on offense. We just tried to play off him."

Detroit scored 13 points in a row to seize a 78-70 edge and McDyess hit three free throws in a row to give the Pistons an 82-72 lead, their largest of the game.

Hedo Turkoglu, who led Orlando with 18 points, hit a jumper and assisted on a Rashard Lewis 3-pointer to cut Detroit's lead in half with 3:08 remaining and the margin was the same, 89-85, after Tayshaun Prince hit a free throw with 79 seconds remaining.

Turkoglu answered with back-to-back baskets to pull Orlando within a point but the Turkish standout knocked a rebound out of bounds with 20.9 seconds remaining and Orlando began fouling to stop the clock.

Hamilton, who was perfect on 16 free throws, hit six in the final 19.6 seconds to keep the Magic at bay while Prince blocked a Turkoglu dunk attempt and Orlando lost the ball out of bounds on the next possession, the 21st and last Magic turnover of the game. Those giveaways set up 34 Pistons points.

In New Orleans, David West battled through a pinched back nerve for the game of his life and as a result, defending champion San Antonio is on the brink of a playoff exit.

The 27-year-old power forward scored 38 points to spark New Orleans past San Antonio 101-79, giving the Hornets a three games to two edge over the Spurs in the best-of-seven Western Conference second-round series.

West's point total, off 16-of-25 shooting, was a career playoff high as were his 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. After a disappointing effort in a Game 4 defeat, West bounced back with a vengeance.

"I was disappointed with how I played. I wanted to come out and have a big night," West said. "We attacked them aggressively. We made them come out of their comfort zone."

There is little comfort for the Spurs, who are in danger of falling short in their bid for a fifth NBA crown in 10 seasons after fading in the third quarter for the third road playoff game in a row.

"The New Orleans defense was great," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Their defense was the reason we had so many problems in the third quarter. Give them credit for that."

The Hornets can advance to the NBA semifinals with a victory on Thursday at San Antonio, where the Spurs will try to continue the home-team domination in the series and force a seventh game back here on Monday.

"We had to treat this like a game seven," West said. "There's no way we wanted to go back to San Antonio."

AFP

(China Daily 05/15/2008 page24)