Basketball: Detroit take the finals to nailbiter

SAN ANTONIO - Richard Hamilton scored 23 points and Chauncey Billups added 21 as the Detroit Pistons ensured a deciding game in the NBA finals with a dramatic 95-86 win over the San Antonio Spurs yesterday.

The Pistons, the defending champions, levelled the best-of-seven series at 3-3, denying the Spurs an opportunity to capture their third title in seven seasons.

Game seven is in San Antonio tomorrow.

Rasheed Wallace added 16 points for the Pistons, despite being in foul trouble most of the match. Tim Duncan had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Spurs, while Manu Ginobili added 21 points and 10 assists.

After four blow-out games to open the series, game six was another nailbiter, similar to San Antonio's 96-95 game five win at Detroit

The teams went back and forth all match and were level at 23-23 after one quarter. San Antonio managed to grab a one-point lead at halftime, but the Pistons took over in the third quarter to lead by four heading into the final 12-minute period, 71-67.

The Pistons continued hitting three-pointers in the second half and had eight in the game, after registering that total in the first five games of the series combined.

Detroit led by as many as seven points with six minutes and 10 seconds to play, but the Spurs staged a dramatic rally to cut the lead down to one with 2m 15s on the clock.

However, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace hit late baskets to keep the Pistons ahead. It is the first time in 11 seasons that the finals require a maximum seven games.

- REUTERS