When the Bucks left Ford alone on Hamilton, he simply rose over the shorter guard for open jumpers. When Milwaukee tried to give Ford help, Hamilton found open teammates and they made shots.

Wallace made a 3-pointer ¡ª off Hamilton's assist ¡ª to put the Pistons ahead for good midway through the first quarter. Those points were the first of 11 straight for Detroit, and sparked a 21-2 run that provided a cushion large enough to let the Pistons coast to the victory.

Hamilton had 15 points in the first quarter, putting the Pistons ahead 39-23.

Detroit had four starters with at least 11 points in the first half while Redd was the only Buck in double figures at halftime as they trailed 62-49.

Hamilton scored the first basket of the second half ¡ª giving him 26 points ¡ª and after a Milwaukee basket, Wallace made three straight 3-pointers during a burst that put the Pistons ahead 80-51 midway through the third quarter.

Hamilton had 40 points entering the fourth, and Milwaukee's starters combined for 51 as the Pistons led 97-66.

Chauncey Billups had 17 points and eight assists and Tayshaun Prince added 12 points for the Pistons to help them finish with their highest total in the playoffs since scoring 145 against Boston in the 1987.

"Offensively, they've gotten better, there's no doubt," Redd said. "They're pushing it more than in the past three or four years, when they were more of a half-court style team. Now, they make you pay for mistakes.

"But their defense is going to win a championship for them."

Milwaukee's Jamaal Magloire had eight points and reserve Toni Kukoc added seven in the first quarter, but both were held scoreless the rest of the game. Andrew Bogut, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, scored 10 points and Ford had 10 points and six assists. Bucks reserve Dan Gadzuric had 13 points in nine minutes before leaving the game with a sprained right ankle.

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