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Pierce, Celtics beat Pistons to reach NBA finals
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-05-31 23:00
Pierce made two free throws on the possession, putting the Celtics up by six with 1 1/2 minutes to go. "It was the best fourth quarter we played all playoff long," Pierce said. The Pistons failed on their 3-pointers down the stretch and couldn't take advantage of Garnett missing two free throws with 36 seconds left. The Pistons were eliminated at home for the first time since Pierce helped Boston do it in the second round of the 2002 playoffs. Detroit had won its previous five games this postseason when coming off a loss. Detroit lost Game 6 of the conference finals for the third straight year and with only one title and two NBA finals appearances during its impressive six-year run, the franchise will draw more comparisons to baseball's Atlanta Braves. The Celtics, meanwhile, validated their bold move of adding Garnett and Allen to Pierce to form a Big Three. They played key roles in the decisive fourth quarter, helping Boston outscore Detroit 29-13. Boston point guard Rajon Rondo scored 11 points and Kendrick Perkins added seven points and seven rebounds. Unlike early games in the series, neither team jumped out to a big lead in the opening minutes. Boston led 24-21 after five lead changes - the last coming at the 6:12 mark - and a tie in the first quarter and a negated shot. Pistons rookie Rodney Stuckey made a jumper late in the quarter, but it was waved off after a video review showed the ball in his hand when the shot clock expired. Allen and Hamilton, in a matchup of Connecticut greats, had 10 points apiece in the first quarter to lead both teams. After the Celtics went ahead by seven, Billups made a 3-pointer and later a free throw to pull Detroit within a point. Garnett then went to the bench with three fouls and 3:11 left in the first half, and seldom-used reserve Leon Powe replaced him and matched the superstar's point total of four points to help Boston lead 40-37 at halftime. Garnett opened the game by making his first two shots, then missed his final eight attempts in the first half. Both teams had two starters making shots and three putting up bricks. Billups and Hamilton were a combined 11-of-19, while the other three starters were 1-for-12. Wallace and Prince missed all five of their shots. Allen and Pierce combined to go 9-of-15. The rest of the starters were 5-for-21. Garnett and Prince both ended their skids by making jumpers early in the second half. Prince scored nine points in the third to help Detroit score 31 in the quarter after being held to just 37 in the first half. Antonio McDyess made two free throws with 3 minutes left in the third quarter to put Detroit ahead as part of a 22-6 run that gave it a 10-point cushion early in the fourth.
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